Monday, 2 September 2013
Doctors have developed a genetically modified bacteria to tackle cancer.
The bug is a member of the clostridium family and related to the bacteria behind botulism and the hospital superbug C. difficile, has been engineered by scientists to contain a gene that will help them battle tumours.
The idea is that this modified bacteria hunts down the cancer cells, and then releases a type of enzyme which makes them more susceptible to cancer drugs.
The bacteria, which is the work of a UK-based company, is still in the very early stages of development, but the team hope to start trials in the next five years.
