TEHRAN, YJC. An Iranian researcher has extracted four anti-cancer bacteria from soil in his doctorate thesis project.
The researcher
Elham Moazamian said "The thesis topic is The Effects of Bacterium Bacillus
Thuringiensis Toxin on Intestine and Blood Cancer Cells. In this project
different bacteria from diverse geographic regions of Iran with diverse
climates were extracted. From 4,146 Bacterium Bacillus Thuringienses extracted
only the toxin from 4 had the ability to eradicate intestine and blood cancer
cells.”
She added "After
the laboratory research we found out that these four bacteria can eliminate up
to 70 percent of intestine cancer cells and around 40 percent of the blood
cancer cells.”
"The interesting thing about these four
bacteria is that their toxin acts in a selective way, that is, it does not have
any destructive effects on the normal human blood cells.”
Negar
Azarpira, Shiraz University Medical faculty member also provided comments on
the project and said "So far no such research has been done in Iran and the
anti-cancer effects of this toxin have not been studied. We must keep in mind
that this research has been conducted only in vitro.”
She said "Next
we have to start research on animal samples with consultation from
toxicologists. If the results are positive then clinical trials must be
conducted on human in three stages so that the toxins’ medical effects are
proved. These stages take at least 3-4 years.”