A bacterium in Japanese tree frogs eliminated 100% of colorectal tumors.

 

A bacterium in Japanese tree frogs eliminated 100% of colorectal tumors.

Researchers at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have uncovered a potent anticancer weapon in an unlikely place: the gut of the Japanese tree frog.

The study, published in the journal Gut Microbes, identified the bacterium Ewingella americana as a biological powerhouse capable of eradicating colorectal tumors with total efficacy in laboratory mouse models. Unlike traditional treatments, this microbe thrives in the oxygen-depleted environment of solid tumors, multiplying rapidly to destroy cancer cells directly while simultaneously "training" the host's immune system. This dual-action approach not only cleared the primary disease but also created a vaccine-like immunity that prevented the cancer from returning in the test subjects.

In head-to-head laboratory tests, E. americana outperformed both standard chemotherapy and modern immunotherapy, offering a favorable safety profile with no lasting toxicity or organ damage in the mice. While the results are a stunning validation of how biodiversity can drive medical innovation, experts urge cautious optimism. The research is currently in the preclinical stage, and because this specific bacterium can occasionally cause infections in humans, significant safety engineering and clinical trials are required. Moving forward, the team aims to determine if this amphibian-derived therapy can be safely adapted for human use and whether its remarkable success extends to other aggressive cancer types.

source: Miyako, E., et al. (2025). Dual-action anticancer effects and high safety of Ewingella americana isolated from the Japanese tree frog gut. Gut Microbes.