Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery. Bacteria found in the gut of the Japanese tree frog (Dryophytes japonicus) have proven highly effective in fighting cancer. In tests on mice, one specific bacterium completely eliminated tumors without any serious side effects.

How did this discovery come about?
Frogs, lizards, and other amphibians and reptiles rarely get cancer. Scientists at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology wondered what would happen if they introduced the gut bacteria of these animals into mice. They selected a total of 45 different bacteria from frogs, newts, and lizards. Nine of these showed promising cancer-fighting potential. The most prominent bacteria was Ewingella americana from the Japanese tree frog.

What did these bacteria do?
With just one dose, tumors in mice completely disappeared.
Even after reintroducing cancer cells 30 days later, no tumors formed for the next month.
This bacteria works in two ways...

It directly attacks tumors
and strengthens the body's immune system—activating T cells, B cells, and neutrophils.
Tumors have low oxygen levels, making chemotherapy drugs less effective. However, this bacterium thrives in this low-oxygen environment.
Also read: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? A scientific answer has been found to this age-old puzzle.

Safety and comparison
In mice, this bacterium cleared quickly from the blood.
It proved more effective than the existing chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.
It had no long-term side effects and did not affect healthy organs.
The scientists said this bacterium could be a safe option for clinical trials.

This is just the beginning
This discovery has been conducted only on mice so far. More tests are needed to determine whether it will work in humans. Scientists now want to test it on other types of cancer. They want to combine it with other drugs and find better ways to deliver the drug. Safety is a major concern, as Ewingella americana can cause infections in humans. Therefore, clinical trials must be conducted with extreme caution. Currently, a bacterial therapy is already being used to treat bladder cancer. Amphibians like frogs may provide new cancer drugs in the future. Scientists say that nature's biodiversity still holds many hidden medicines. We must preserve it so that we can continue to discover new medicines. This research was published in the journal "Gut Microbes." This discovery has given new hope to cancer patients.

 PC: Samacharnama