This innovation, over 150 years in the making since the earliest bacterial cancer treatments, could open a new era of safe, immune-free cancer therapy.
Date:
Source:
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Summary:
A Japanese-led research team has developed AUN, a groundbreaking immune-independent bacterial cancer therapy that uses two harmonized bacteria to destroy tumors even in patients with weakened immune systems. By leveraging the natural synergy between Proteus mirabilis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris, AUN selectively targets cancer cells, reshapes itself within tumors, and avoids harmful side effects like cytokine release syndrome.
FULL STORY
The new AUN bacterial duo can eradicate tumors without the help of immune cells, offering hope for patients whose immune systems are compromised. Credit: Shutterstock
A research team led by Professor Eijiro Miyako at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. and the University of Tsukuba, has created an innovative cancer treatment that works without relying on the immune system. The new approach uses a unique microbial partnership known as AUN, forming the foundation of an immune-independent bacterial therapy.
The concept of bacterial cancer therapy dates back to 1868, when German physician Busch reported that a cancer patient deliberately infected with bacteria later experienced remission. In 1893, Dr. William Coley further advanced this idea by developing bacterial-based treatments, paving the way for modern immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies.
While these treatments have transformed cancer care, they share a major drawback: they depend heavily on the immune system. For patients whose immunity is weakened by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, such therapies often fail to work effectively.
AUN: Two Bacteria in Perfect Balance
The newly developed AUN therapy directly overcomes this limitation. It is made up of two naturally occurring bacterial species:
Proteus mirabilis (A-gyo), a bacterium that naturally resides in tumors
Rhodopseudomonas palustris (UN-gyo), a photosynthetic bacterium
Together, these bacteria act in harmony to destroy cancer cells in both animal and human models. Remarkably, they succeed even when immune function is impaired. AUN has shown strong compatibility with the human body and few side effects, including suppression of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a potentially dangerous immune reaction.
How AUN Works to Eliminate Tumors
The AUN consortium achieves its tumor-fighting power through a series of coordinated mechanisms:
Precisely targeting and destroying tumor blood vessels and cancer cells
Undergoing a structural transformation in A-gyo (filamentation) triggered by tumor-specific metabolites, which enhances its ability to kill cancer cells
Adjusting the bacterial ratio inside the tumor environment, shifting from an initial mix of roughly 3:97 (A-gyo to UN-gyo) to about 99:1, maximizing its therapeutic strength
Reducing toxicity and minimizing side effects, including avoidance of CRS
Harmony Between Opposites
UN-gyo only becomes active and beneficial when paired with A-gyo, serving as a regulator that curbs harmful bacterial activity while increasing their cancer-killing precision. This mutual cooperation embodies the Japanese concept of "AUN," symbolizing balance and harmony between opposites. It is this finely tuned relationship that gives the therapy its exceptional results, achieving what traditional immune-dependent treatments could not.
Toward Clinical Trials and a New Era in Cancer Therapy
"We are preparing to launch a startup to advance this technology and hope to begin clinical trials within six years," explained Professor Miyako. "A new chapter in bacteria-based cancer therapy -- pursued for over 150 years -- is finally beginning."
This groundbreaking method marks a turning point for cancer patients with weakened immune systems. It offers a long-sought option where conventional immunotherapies fall short, signaling the arrival of truly immune-independent cancer treatment.
The findings have been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. "New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 November 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm>.
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. (2025, November 9). New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 9, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. "New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm (accessed November 9, 2025).
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This innovation, over 150 years in the making since the earliest bacterial cancer treatments, could open a new era of safe, immune-free cancer therapy.
Date:
Source:
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Summary:
A Japanese-led research team has developed AUN, a groundbreaking immune-independent bacterial cancer therapy that uses two harmonized bacteria to destroy tumors even in patients with weakened immune systems. By leveraging the natural synergy between Proteus mirabilis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris, AUN selectively targets cancer cells, reshapes itself within tumors, and avoids harmful side effects like cytokine release syndrome.
FULL STORY
The new AUN bacterial duo can eradicate tumors without the help of immune cells, offering hope for patients whose immune systems are compromised. Credit: Shutterstock
A research team led by Professor Eijiro Miyako at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. and the University of Tsukuba, has created an innovative cancer treatment that works without relying on the immune system. The new approach uses a unique microbial partnership known as AUN, forming the foundation of an immune-independent bacterial therapy.
The concept of bacterial cancer therapy dates back to 1868, when German physician Busch reported that a cancer patient deliberately infected with bacteria later experienced remission. In 1893, Dr. William Coley further advanced this idea by developing bacterial-based treatments, paving the way for modern immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies.
While these treatments have transformed cancer care, they share a major drawback: they depend heavily on the immune system. For patients whose immunity is weakened by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, such therapies often fail to work effectively.
AUN: Two Bacteria in Perfect Balance
The newly developed AUN therapy directly overcomes this limitation. It is made up of two naturally occurring bacterial species:
Proteus mirabilis (A-gyo), a bacterium that naturally resides in tumors
Rhodopseudomonas palustris (UN-gyo), a photosynthetic bacterium
Together, these bacteria act in harmony to destroy cancer cells in both animal and human models. Remarkably, they succeed even when immune function is impaired. AUN has shown strong compatibility with the human body and few side effects, including suppression of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a potentially dangerous immune reaction.
How AUN Works to Eliminate Tumors
The AUN consortium achieves its tumor-fighting power through a series of coordinated mechanisms:
Precisely targeting and destroying tumor blood vessels and cancer cells
Undergoing a structural transformation in A-gyo (filamentation) triggered by tumor-specific metabolites, which enhances its ability to kill cancer cells
Adjusting the bacterial ratio inside the tumor environment, shifting from an initial mix of roughly 3:97 (A-gyo to UN-gyo) to about 99:1, maximizing its therapeutic strength
Reducing toxicity and minimizing side effects, including avoidance of CRS
Harmony Between Opposites
UN-gyo only becomes active and beneficial when paired with A-gyo, serving as a regulator that curbs harmful bacterial activity while increasing their cancer-killing precision. This mutual cooperation embodies the Japanese concept of "AUN," symbolizing balance and harmony between opposites. It is this finely tuned relationship that gives the therapy its exceptional results, achieving what traditional immune-dependent treatments could not.
Toward Clinical Trials and a New Era in Cancer Therapy
"We are preparing to launch a startup to advance this technology and hope to begin clinical trials within six years," explained Professor Miyako. "A new chapter in bacteria-based cancer therapy -- pursued for over 150 years -- is finally beginning."
This groundbreaking method marks a turning point for cancer patients with weakened immune systems. It offers a long-sought option where conventional immunotherapies fall short, signaling the arrival of truly immune-independent cancer treatment.
The findings have been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. "New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 November 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm>.
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. (2025, November 9). New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 9, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. "New bacterial therapy destroys cancer without the immune system." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109013250.htm (accessed November 9, 2025).
Aug. 17, 2025 Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against ...
May 19, 2025 Researchers have published the first description of the role of the ZFP36 family of RNA binding proteins in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are key to maintaining balance in the immune system and ...
Feb. 11, 2025 Immunotherapy, which uses programmed immune cells to selectively destroy cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment. However, cancer cells have developed immune evasion strategies, leading to ...
Jan. 17, 2024 Researchers have discovered a novel treatment to relieve cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a life-threatening inflammation triggered by a serious infection or severe burn. Treatment with a ...
Sep. 14, 2023 Researchers provide essential insights on the molecular activation of the MAP kinase p38?, the final switch triggering the inflammatory response. Inflammation is a cellular coping mechanism when ...
July 18, 2023 Without intervention, the colorful but devastating Japanese beetle could make its way across the evergreen state within two decades, according to a study of their potential dispersion. The ...
