The Effects of Salmonella typhimurium on Cancerous Tumors

Abstract

Every year millions of people throughout the world are diagnosed with cancer, which has caused researchers to focus their efforts on finding more effective treatment options. This study focuses on the efficacy of treatment using a genetically modified strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Current treatments involving strains of Salmonella have had promising results, however they are not effective long term treatment and tumor have a tendency to recur. In their study, Zheng et al attempted to modify a bacterial strain so as to make it more efficient in its ability to cause long term tumor repression. The question they are asking is if it is possible to induce an immunological response from the body, through introduction of S. typhimurium, that will kill cancerous tumors. Furthermore, they wanted this immunological response to only be triggered during the desired time and at the desired location. The researchers are hoping that specific flagella present on S. typhimurium will be effective at activation of the toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) signaling pathway. In order to test this, they genetically altered S. typhimurium, and injected it directly into the tumor in mice.