Scientists ‘train’ bacteria to detect cancer – 08/15/2023 – Science

Researchers have found that engineered cells can find cancer-causing mutations in the body, a promising discovery for early diagnosis.

In a startling scientific breakthrough, an international team of researchers has shown how microbes can become crucial allies in the early detection of cancer. Although it looks like a scenario out of a science fiction movie, scientists have managed to train microorganisms to act as cancer detectors.

Using a series of precise instructions, the team of scientists led by biologist Robert Cooper of the University of California, San Diego, designed bacteria capable of identifying fragments of DNA associated with colorectal cancer cells. These modified microbes, known as “biosensors”, could be a milestone in the early diagnosis of this disease.

Acinetobacter baylyi: an ally in detection

The key to this technique lies in the use of a bacteria called Acinetobacter baylyi, which has the natural ability to collect fragments of DNA from its environment. Typically, this bacterium uses this DNA-gathering ability, known as “natural competition,” to incorporate new genetic fragments into its own genome.

However, in the study published in the journal Sciencethe researchers were able to equip the A. baylyi with specific instructions to look for DNA sequences associated with cancerous mutations in colorectal cancer.

The results obtained are surprising: A. baylyi demonstrated to be able to differentiate between cancerous mutations and harmless genetic errors in the DNA released by cells.

When the bacteria detected the tumor’s DNA, it turned on an antibiotic-resistance gene, allowing it to grow on antibiotic agar plates, a sign that it had detected cancer cells. This promising new approach could offer a non-invasive and highly effective way to detect bowel cancer in its early stages.

early detection

Although years of research and clinical trials are still needed to validate the efficacy and safety of this method in humans, the results so far are encouraging. Biomedical doctor Susan Woods, author of the study at the University of Adelaide (Australia), commented, quoted by the specialized portal Science Alert: “This study shows that bacteria can be engineered to detect specific DNA sequences to diagnose disease in hard-to-reach places.”

In a next step, the research team plans to expand its focus to detect other mutations and types of cancer, which could open the door to earlier diagnoses of various types of cancer.

Early detection remains one of the most important pillars in the fight against this disease, and the use of trained microbes as biosensors could become a crucial tool in this battle.