A small Japanese tree frog carries a special microbe in its digestive system that can destroy cancer. Scientists at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology studied bacteria from native animals, including the frog. They found 45 different types and tested them. Nine types could stop tumors, but one, called Ewingella americana, was the most effective.
Colorectal cancer is a major global health problem. Researchers tested the Ewingella americana bacterium on mice with colorectal tumors. After just one injection, the tumors completely disappeared in all the mice. This frog microbe worked better than standard chemotherapy and other modern treatments.
Tumors create a difficult environment that protects them from medicines. However, Ewingella americana can live with or without oxygen, so it easily enters the center of tumors. The bacteria multiplied quickly inside the tumors, growing about 3,000 times larger in 24 hours. From inside, the bacteria killed cancer cells and alerted the mice's immune systems to attack the cancer.
The treatment was also safe for the mice. The bacteria only targeted the tumors and did not harm healthy organs like the heart or liver. The microbes disappeared from the bloodstream within a day. The mice had only a mild, temporary reaction. Researchers plan to test this frog bacterium against other cancers, like breast and pancreatic cancer.