2023-08-14 11:32:38
Genetically Modified Bacteria Key in Early Cancer Detection, Scientists Say
Cancer, a deadly disease that can occur in any part of the body, often goes undetected until it reaches an advanced stage. However, American scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against this life-threatening illness: genetically modified bacteria that can help detect cancer cells.
This innovation opens up new possibilities for the development of biosensors. The researchers successfully used the genetically modified bacteria to identify cancer cells in the colon of mice. They believe that this technique can be applied to detect various types of cancer, as well as other diseases and infections in the future.
Until now, bacteria have been utilized to diagnose diseases, but scientists have been unable to identify specific DNA sequences and mutations outside of cells. The new technique, called CATCH gene transfer technology, utilizes the CRISPR method of genetic manipulation, enabling them to achieve this feat.
Lead researcher Jeff Hasty of the University of California expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “When we started this project four years ago, we weren’t even sure if it was even possible to use bacteria as a living sensor for recognizing mammalian DNA. This is a very important invention that can be used in many different ways.” He added that they hope to use the bacterial sensors to detect both malignant and precancerous tumors in the digestive system.
The scientists explained that tumors release DNA material into their surroundings, which can lead to the spread of gene packages and life-threatening metastases in different parts of the body. While there are various methods for analyzing DNA in labs, it has been challenging to pinpoint the origin of tumor DNA. This is where the CATCH strategy comes into play. The researchers identified a specific bacteria, Acinetobacter baylyi, which was genetically modified to recognize freely floating DNA sequences in the body. The obtained samples can be compared to known cancer sequences for accurate detection.
Notably, bacteria have the ability to pick up DNA from their environment and incorporate it into their own genetic collection through a process called bacterial transformation or horizontal gene transfer. This concept has now been applied in transporting DNA from mammalian tumors and human cells to bacteria, a first in medical research.
To test the effectiveness of the modified bacteria, the researchers programmed Acinetobacter to differentiate between normal and mutated genes. Only the bacteria capable of incorporating the mutated DNA strands into their own genetic arsenal could survive. This allowed for the detection of malignant tumors and precancerous stages such as intestinal polyps, creating a visible indicator of cancer. Researcher Josephine Wright expressed her amazement at seeing the green bacterial colonies under the microscope, as they were only present in mice with intestinal tumors.
The next phase of this research involves constructing and testing new biosensors using CRISPR technology. These biosensors can be employed with various bacterial species, including Acinetobacter, to detect and combat different types of cancer, diseases, and infections. The researchers envision a future where living bacteria programmed with CRISPR can prevent or slow down the progression of colorectal cancer.
Renowned Columbia professor Siddhartha Mukherjee, who was not involved in the study, commented, “In the future, diseases will no longer be treated and prevented by taking pills, but by using living bacteria. This technology has the potential to detect and eliminate tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.”
While further development is required, it seems likely that this revolutionary invention will become a crucial tool in the medical field. Researcher Daniel Worthley proclaimed, “In the future, no one will have to die from colorectal cancer. We hope that our work will help bioengineers, scientists, and eventually physicians achieve this goal.” With the promise that genetically modified bacteria bring, a cancer-free future may not be as far-fetched as it seems.]
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