This frog bacterium wiped out cancer tumors in mice with a single dose
Researchers at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have discovered that a bacterium found in Japanese tree frogs can eliminate cancer tumors in mice. A single intravenous dose of the bacterium Ewingella americana resulted in a 100% response rate in colorectal cancer models.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a potential breakthrough in oncology by utilizing living bacteria as a targeted, highly effective alternative to traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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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