Scientists identify how gut bacterium triggers colon cancer

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have discovered the mechanism by which a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, can contribute to colorectal cancer, WRAL reported.

The bacterium produces a toxin that damages the colon's protective lining, causes chronic inflammation, and promotes tumor formation, according to ScienceDaily Health.

The key breakthrough was identifying the protein claudin-4 as the docking point for the bacterial toxin BFT, which initiates the damage to intestinal cells.

Using this knowledge, researchers developed a molecular decoy that intercepts the toxin before it harms colon cells, successfully protecting mice from its effects.

This discovery offers a potential new approach to preventing bacterial damage linked to colorectal cancer, with support from the National Institutes of Health.

The research was published in Nature and led by scientists from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and related institutes.