PLOS Genetics find bacteria in cat feces that could fight ovarian cancer

July 25, 2016

T.gondii is a parasite in cat feces which humans are told to avoid
Can kill pregnant woman’s fetus or lead to a flu-like illness
But new study shows the aggressive protein can fight ovarian cancer
It causes the body to generate cancer-fighting cells, stunts cancer growth

Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published:
09:03 EST, 25 July 2016

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Updated:
09:34 EST, 25 July 2016

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Scientists have found a promising strategy to fight ovarian cancer – in cat feces.

Cats excrete a parasite protein called Toxoplasma gondii, an infectious microbe which humans are normally told to avoid.

It can infect a pregnant woman’s fetus, leaving the baby dead or brain damaged, and was also once linked with giving AIDS patients dementia.

Most commonly, it can cause toxoplasmosis, a flu-like illness.

But now, researchers have discovered that the attacking protein can destroy ovarian tumors.

The study, published in PLOS Genetics, could unlock research for a cancer vaccine.

Cats excrete a parasite protein called Toxoplasma gondii, an infectious microbe which humans are normally told to avoid. But now, researchers have discovered that the attacking protein can destroy ovarian tumors

‘Aggressive cancers too often seem like fast moving train wrecks,’ lead author Dr David Bzik said.

But this parasite, he says, ‘is the microscopic, but super strong, hero that catches the wayward trains, halts their progression and shrinks them until they disappear.’

Cancer cells mimic human cells, making it difficult for the immune system to identify which cells to attack.

However, when T.gondii parasites enter the immune system, they cause the body to create cancer-fighting cells, according to researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

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It means that while cancer cripples the immune system, T.gondii can rejuvenate it.

Since T.gondii naturally multiplies, spreading its own infection, the team created a modified controllable strain.

Dr Bzik’s team then injected this mutant strain of T.gondii into mice with aggressive melanoma and ovarian cancer.

As hoped, they saw that T.gondii invaded cancer cells and stopped them from growing.

The parasites also generated cancer-fighting cells in the immune system, blocking the disease from developing.

Consequently, survival rates among the mice rocketed.

T.gondii is a commonly-found parasite which inhabits 50 per cent of living organisms. It lives inside the intestines of warm-blooded animals, but thrives in cats. Humans ingest it by eating contaminated meat

The study is the latest attempt at testing bacteria to identify a cancer vaccine.

Other trials are testing to see if Listeria monocytogenes have the same effect on pancreatic tumors.

T.gondii is a commonly-found parasite which inhabits 50 per cent of living organisms.

It lives inside the intestines of warm-blooded animals, but particularly thrives in cats.

Humans can ingest the parasite by eating contaminated meat or water, or coming into contact with cat feces while cleaning out the kitty litter.

It can lead to toxoplasmosis, which has devastating effects in people with weakened immune systems.

Infected healthy people can experience flu-like symptoms, though many experience no symptoms at all.