Innovative Bacterial Platform Uses Bacteria to Deliver Viruses for Targeted Tumor Therapy

Researchers at Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a groundbreaking cancer treatment platform that employs bacteria to transport therapeutic viruses directly into tumors. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, this innovative system leverages a engineered bacteria-virus collaboration where the bacteria act as carriers, infiltrating tumor sites and shielding the virus from the body's immune defenses.

The core concept involves embedding a virus inside a tumor-homing bacterium, specifically Salmonella typhimurium, which naturally targets low-oxygen environments typical of tumors. Once within the tumor, these bacteria release the virus directly into cancer cells, initiating their destruction. This method effectively bypasses traditional immune barriers, which often neutralize viruses before they can act, by cloaking the virus within the bacteria.

The engineered system, called CAPPSID (Coordinated Activity of Prokaryote and Picornavirus for Safe Intracellular Delivery), ensures controlled viral spread, as the virus depends on a molecule produced solely by the bacteria to replicate. This safeguard prevents unintended infection of healthy tissues, enhancing safety and specificity.

The collaborative effort involved prominent experts such as Tal Danino and Charles M. Rice, aiming to enhance bacterial cancer therapy by enabling the bacteria to deliver and activate viruses directly within tumors while incorporating safety measures. Their research demonstrated successful application in mouse models, marking the first example of engineered cooperation between bacteria and viruses for cancer treatment.

By harnessing the bacteria's natural ability to locate tumors and the virus's capacity to kill cancer cells, this platform offers a promising approach for treating solid tumors. It also addresses major challenges such as immune clearance and uncontrolled viral spread. Future efforts focus on expanding this technology to various cancer types and optimizing it for clinical use, including testing with bacterial strains proven safe in humans.

This development signifies a major advancement toward integrating living microbes and viruses into cancer therapies, opening doors to more effective and precise treatments in oncology.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-bioengineered-platform-bacteria-viruses-tumors.html