This bacteria lurking in your intestine could one day save lives

The intestinal microbiota still contains many mysteries. However, but researchers are starting to unravel its most surprising secrets. In addition, Latest advance to date: identifying a bacteria capable of amplifying the effects of cancer treatments. Therefore, in particular those based on immunotherapy. For example, This track opens up new perspectives to strengthen the effectiveness of these therapies. Meanwhile, which is now limited to a fraction of patients.

An unknown bacteria. However, a powerful effect – This bacteria lurking your intestine

Everything starts from a question that has intrigued researchers for several years: why do some patients respond very well to immunotherapy treatments, when others are almost no profit? Nevertheless, These treatments. Nevertheless, called immune control points inhibitors, aim to “release” the patient’s natural defenses so that their own immune system can tackle cancer cells. In addition, But despite their spectacular effectiveness in some, they still this bacteria lurking your intestine fail in many.

To understand these differences, the team of Dr. Nevertheless, Hiroyoshi Nishikawa, from the National Cancer of Tokyo, had the idea of looking at the intestinal microbiota of treated patients. For example, By comparing samples of saddles of patients responders. non-repurchairs, the researchers transplanted these microbiotes into the mouse intestine with tumors. Result: rodents having received the microbiota from patients most receptive to treatment have also shown a better response.

The link was established, remained to be identified. After more than a year and a half of meticulous research, scientists discovered the microbe in question: HominenteMicrobium woman. So far, this bacteria had not a little interest. Present in the human intestine, she lives discreetly in an environment poor in oxygen, rich in nutrients. But its potential role in immunotherapy radically changes its status.

How does it work?

In mice, H. this bacteria lurking your intestine Woman Stimulates an essential link in the immune system: dendritic cells. These cells. true scouts, capture danger signals and migrate to tumors, where they activate other actors in immunity, including T lymphocytes. The latter are responsible for tracking down and eliminating cancer cells. The role of control points inhibitors is precisely to lift the brakes that hinder the action of these lymphocytes. By strengthening this immune activation upstream, bacteria therefore multiplies the effects of treatment.

Other microbes had already been identified as capable of influencing the effectiveness of these therapies, but H. Mulieris seems to surpass all its predecessors. The tests carried out showed a much sharper and more reliable effect than those observed with other similar bacteria.

Clinical trials in sight

With these results. the Nishikawa team has teamed up with a biotech to prepare a clinical trial in the coming years. The objective: to verify whether this bacteria can. in humans, strengthen the effectiveness of control points inhibitors, as it does in mice. If the results are as encouraging as those obtained in the laboratory. this advance could mark a turning point in the treatment of certain cancers.

However, researchers remain cautious. The human microbiota is very complex. and it is unlikely that one bacteria is enough to optimize the immunity of all patients. But this discovery goes in the direction of a more this bacteria lurking your intestine personalized medicinewhere one day one could administer. tailor -made cocktails of bacteria to maximize the chances of therapeutic success.

In any case, this research confirms the growing importance of the microbiota in the fight against cancer. The intestine. often nicknamed “our second brain”, could well become, in the years to come, A strategic ally in the fight against disease.