This frog bacterium wiped out cancer tumors in mice with a single dose
Researchers have discovered that a specific bacterium found in Japanese tree frogs can effectively eliminate cancer tumors in mice. A single intravenous dose of the bacterium showed a 100% response rate in trials, outperforming standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a promising new pathway for cancer treatment by using targeted bacterial therapy to attack tumors directly.
Scientists at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have identified a naturally occurring bacterium from the intestines of Japanese tree frogs (Dryophytes japonicus) that demonstrated remarkable anticancer activity in mice. The findings, published in Gut Microbes , introduce a new approach to cancer treatment that uses living bacteria to directly target tumors rather than simply altering the gut microbiome.
Unlike many previous studies that focused on changing the composition of gut bacteria or using fecal microbiota transplants, this research isolated individual bacterial strains, grew them in the laboratory, and delivered them intravenously to attack tumors.
The team collected 45 bacterial strains from the intestines of Japanese tree frogs, Japanese fire belly newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster), and Japanese grass lizards (Takydromus tachydromoides). After screening the bacteria for anticancer activity, nine strains showed promise. Among them, Ewingella americana produced the strongest results.
Single Treatment Eliminated Tumors in Mice
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