Scientists have discovered that a seemingly harmless bacterium can cause devastating and irreversible changes in our stomach if it falls under the influence of a more insidious organism.
In a recent study, scientists discovered a potential cause of stomach cancer: a normally harmless bacterium that, along with the infamous H. pylori, increases the chances of developing the disease. The discovery was made by a team from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who wanted to find out why people with H. pylori eventually develop stomach cancer. They suspected that something else might be involved in this problem and decided to investigate the issue further, New Atlas writes.
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H. pylori has a bad reputation because it has been shown to significantly increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers and stomach cancer, which affects millions of people worldwide. After examining patients at different stages of cancer, scientists discovered five types of bacteria that should not be there; These include a bacterium called Streptococcus anginosus, which usually lives only in parts of our body such as the mouth and intestines without causing us any problems. However, research says that once S. anginosus reaches the stomach, it grows out of control, causing inflammation and, over time, cancer.
Researchers conducted experiments on mice and found that S. anginosus itself can start a chain reaction from inflammation to cancer. However, when combined with H. pylori, this deadly duo causes even more chaos and destruction in the stomach.
Digging deeper, the team discovered exactly how S. anginosus does its share of the destructive work. The specific protein that S. anginosus uses to bind to stomach cells activates a complex state transition within these cells, specifically an enzyme called mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). This enzyme plays an important role in regulating cell behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation and survival, but when inappropriately activated by bacteria it leads to abnormal cell growth and ultimately the development of cancerous changes in the stomach lining. Scientists hope to find a way to stop the process by blocking this interaction. Their research not only points to a new culprit in the development of stomach cancer, but may also lead to the development of new methods of treating the disease.
Previously Focus wrote about a symptom of pancreatic cancer that should not be ignored. This cancer is one of the most hidden cancers and the chance of survival is low, so early diagnosis is very important in a situation where life is always at risk.
Moreover Focus He wrote that popular vitamins can provoke the development of cancer. A study by a group of scientists from South Korea explains which foods can contribute to the emergence of malignant tumors.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not contain advice that may affect your health. If you are having problems, contact an expert.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.