Bacteria Protect Against Cancer?
MEDICINE Perhaps you already have a bacterium, that protects against skin cancer, on your skin. American scientists from the University of California have just discovered that some of us carry a staphylococcus bacterium with the fortunate capacity.
Further studies showed that this very bacterium variant secretes a substance known as 6-HAP, whose structure obstructs the copying of DNA in cancer cells. 6-HAP stops the growth of cancer cells, but does not prevent the growth of ordinary skin cells, as special enzymes in normal cells seem to block the effect of the substance.
The scientists placed the different bacterial strains on the backs of hairless mice and hit them with severe UV over a period of 12 weeks. The mice that had the special variant of the bacterium only developed one tumour each, whereas mice with other bacterium variants developed 4-6 cancer tumours.
The substance may be a weapon against alien bacteria. Temporary studies show that about 20% of all people have the bacterium on their skin. 6-HAP might help scientists fight skin cancer.