Can Salmonella Bacteria Benefit Us In Any Way?
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts are trying to turn salmonella bacteria into biological robots to destroy cancer cells in places where chemotherapy drugs cannot reach. They take away bacterial toxicity and load up the microbes with drugs. They are able to swim to the target cancerous cells because of their powerful propellers called flagellae. When they arrive at their destination they venture deep inside tumour cells and release a drug which triggers the cancer cells to kill themselves. Researchers have tried out the technique in mice with cancer and it has improved their survival rates.
