00:00Scientists just turned probiotic bacteria into microscopic drug factories that hunt down cancer.
00:06Researchers at the University of Chicago engineered a strain of Bifidobacterium longum,
00:11a probiotic naturally found in the gut, and even in yogurt, so it seeks out and infiltrates
00:17pancreatic tumors. Once inside, the bacteria produce an immune-stimulating protein directly
00:23at the tumor site, switching on cancer-fighting T-cells right where they're needed.
00:27In animal studies, this approach slowed pancreatic tumor growth, and the effect got even stronger
00:33when combined with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. That matters because pancreatic
00:39cancer has been notoriously resistant to immunotherapy, since these tumors create a
00:44cold environment that blocks immune cells from attacking. By turning a common gut bacterium
00:49into a targeted delivery system, researchers may have found a way to finally break through that
00:54defense. Disclosure, this video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using
00:59AI-assisted tools.
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