News flashes are posted here frequently to keep you up-to-date with the latest advances in health and longevity. We have an unparalleled track record of breaking stories about life extension advances.

• Probiotic Activates Anti-Cancer Immunity

Probiotic Activates Anti-Cancer Immunity

July 01 2026. The May 2026 issue of Cancer Biology & Medicine published the finding of an anti-tumor property of Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis) in a mouse model of melanoma, an aggressive and potentially deadly type of skin cancer.

"Within the genus Bifidobacterium, B. animalis is one of the most widely used and best-characterized probiotic species and is extensively incorporated into fermented dairy products," authors Chengyi Li and colleagues wrote.

They noted that immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy, have revolutionized melanoma treatment, yet more than half of patients who have received the drugs develop resistance and experience treatment-related adverse effects.

By evaluating the effects of five Bifidobacterium species obtained from humans, the research team identified Bifidobacterium animalis as having the strongest effect against melanoma cell growth. In mice, orally administered B. animalis decreased melanoma weight and volume and increased tumor-infiltrating effector T cells. The active component of the bacterium was identified as a sugar known as mannose. When given to mice, mannose replicated the antitumor effects of B. animalis by increasing tumor-infiltrating T cells and their production of tumor-destructive molecules. Combining B. animalis with a checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy produced a greater antitumor effect than either treatment alone.

"We were surprised to find that a simple sugar like mannose could have such a profound effect on T-cell immunity," the authors commented. "What's exciting is that mannose doesn't just activate T cells—it does so by targeting a specific molecular pathway, the Hippo-YAP1 axis, that has not been previously linked to microbial metabolites in cancer immunotherapy. This gives us a clear mechanistic roadmap for how a gut bacterium can systemically influence anti-tumor immunity. The fact that mannose also enriches other beneficial gut bacteria suggests a dual benefit: it directly empowers immune cells while simultaneously fostering a more favorable microbial ecosystem."

—D Dye

What's Hot Archive