Bacterial protein toxins in human cancers

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Bioluminescent Bacterial Imaging In Vivo
05:06

Bioluminescent Bacterial Imaging In Vivo

Published on: November 4, 2012

16.1K

Francesca Rosadi1, Carla Fiorentini1, Alessia Fabbri2

  • 1Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.

Pathogens and Disease
|November 5, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Certain bacterial toxins from persistent infections can cause cancer by damaging DNA or disrupting cell processes. This review analyzes toxins linked to human cancers, highlighting bacterial toxins as an emerging cause of carcinogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Oncology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Persistent bacterial infections are linked to chronic diseases.
  • Bacterial toxins can possess carcinogenic properties.
  • Some toxins directly damage DNA, while others affect cell signaling and death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an updated analysis of bacterial toxins with carcinogenic potential.
  • To review toxins correlated with human cancers.
  • To highlight the emerging role of bacterial toxins in carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific articles.
  • Analysis of bacterial toxins' mechanisms of action.
  • Correlation of toxins with human cancer development.

Main Results:

  • Identified bacterial toxins that directly damage DNA (e.g., CDT, colibactin).
  • Identified toxins affecting eukaryotic cell processes (e.g., CNF1, CagA, BFT).
  • Established mimicry of carcinogens and tumor promoters by bacterial toxins.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial toxins are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to carcinogenesis.
  • Understanding these toxins is crucial for cancer prevention and treatment.
  • Bacterial toxins-induced carcinogenesis is a growing area of research in bacteriology.
Keywords:
DNA damagebacterial toxinscancercell signallingcell survivalmicrobiota

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