In a development that provides a fresh boost to cancer research, bacteria from the intestines of Japanese tree frogs, fire-belly newts, and grass lizards reportedly showed the ability to fight tumours. During laboratory tests conducted by the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), it was discovered that the gut microbiome of these creatures possesses the capability to defeat tumours.
As many as 45 bacterial strains were isolated from the animals and studied by the Japanese team. Out of these, nine showed the ability to fight tumours in laboratory tests. Among these, a bacterium called Ewingella americana, found in the gut of Japanese tree frogs (Dryophytes japonicus), showed the best results when tested directly against tumours in mice. It was a completely natural strain and not genetically modified; to the surprise of the team, it managed to eliminate the tumour completely.
How Ewingella americana takes out cancer cells?
What one dose of Ewingella americana achieved in the said model was impossible even after multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the Times of India (TOI) said in a report. Ewingella americana was able to "wake up" the immune system in the host body, attracting T-cells, B-cells, and neutrophils to the tumour site — resulting in the death of cancer cells.
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Also significant is the capability of this bacterium to thrive in low-oxygen environments. Cancer cells often have low oxygen levels, and within 24 hours of injection, the Ewingella americana count inside the tumour increased nearly 3,000 times, resulting in its destruction. These two factors together make the tumour's survival impossible, the TOI report quoted the Japanese team as claiming.
What makes the development even more promising is the fact that even after two months, no long-term toxicity was found in the mice's bodies — signalling no risk of lethal side effects that could derail the research. Ewingella americana reportedly cleared from the blood within about 24 hours and did not settle in healthy organs such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, or heart.
Too early to celebrate?
While the research is still a long way from fruition, the microbes will soon be tested on other cancers, including breast and pancreatic cancer. The team will also begin identifying safe dosage amounts for human use before testing it as a combination therapy alongside other cancer medications.
READ THE RESEARCH REPORT IN FULL HERE
"Comparative analysis revealed superior therapeutic efficacy of E. americana over conventional treatments while maintaining an excellent safety profile. These findings suggest that the gut microbiomes of lower vertebrates harbour numerous uncharacterised bacterial species with exceptional therapeutic potential," the study read.