Gut bacteria benefits in preventing serious cancers

Scientists have said that targeting certain strains of E. coli bacteria with vaccines or other treatments could help reduce the risk of bowel, bladder and prostate cancers.

This comes as a study has suggested that the high number of certain cancers in industrialised countries such as the UK may be linked to two types of E. coli, which can cause infections in the urinary tract and bloodstream, according to the British news agency (PA Media).

Gut bacteria benefits

These strains produce a DNA-damaging chemical called colibactin, which is linked to bowel cancer.

The scientists said that working to eliminate them "could have huge public health benefits", including reducing the need for antibiotics to treat infections they cause and potentially reducing the risk of cancer.

It is worth noting that E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that are usually harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals.

Tracking strains of bacteria

For the study, published in The Lancet Microbe, the researchers used genetic surveillance to track different strains across countries, including the UK, Norway, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The two strains the researchers focused on are more common in industrialized countries and cause bloodstream and urinary tract infections than food poisoning.

These countries have high levels of bowel, bladder and prostate cancers, the researchers said.

On the other hand, the team’s analysis showed that the strains are rarer in countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, where bowel, bladder and prostate cancers are also lower.