Cancer Cure Research 2017: Can Salmonella Destroy Brain Disease?
Salmonella is typically associated with nothing better than severe digestive troubles, but in Discovery News’ new video, host Trace Dominguez explains how the bacteria could be modified to fight a type of aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma.
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that is the usual culprit behind food poisoning. So, how can it be used for good?
Read: Glioblastoma Treatment Breakthrough: 'Untreatable' Brain Cancer Tumor Stabilized With Malaria Drug
“Researchers were able to genetically alter the makeup of bacteria so it was missing a key amino acid called purine, which is commonly found in tumors. It was also programmed to produce harmful compounds that cause cancer cells to self-destruct in low-oxygen environments — inside a brain tumor, for example,” Dominguez explains.
Salmonella may be injected into the brain before releasing compounds to kill the cell’s purine. The bacteria then dies when there is no purine left.
Other viruses like E. coli have also been modified by scientists to be used for good — instead of evil.
Want to know more about how salmonella can potentially beat brain cancer? Watch the video above.
See Also:
Cancer Treatment: Doctors Stop Deadly Tumors By Dripping Cells Into Man’s Brain
