Scientists finally solved how a common gut bacterium triggers colon cancer

Scientists have solved a long-standing mystery about how a common gut bacterium contributes to colon cancer. According to ScienceDaily, the bacterial toxin works by first binding to a receptor called claudin-4, which allows it to breach the colon's protective barrier. Researchers created a decoy protein that successfully blocked the toxin in mice—an approach that could eventually lead to therapies preventing cancer-related inflammation and tumors.

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