The team’s ingenuity lies in linking the incorporated cancer DNA with an antibiotic resistance gene. When A. baylyi bacteria assimilate cancer DNA, the associated antibiotic resistance gene becomes active. This activation serves as a confirmation of the presence of cancer cells, as only bacteria with active antibiotic resistance can proliferate when subjected to culture plates containing antibiotics.
In their laboratory experiments, the scientists successfully detected tumor DNA in mice injected with colorectal cancer cells. While this breakthrough holds immense promise, the technology is not yet poised for clinical diagnosis. The researchers are committed to refining the technique’s efficiency and evaluating its performance relative to other diagnostic methods.
