Posted on 03/03/2018 5:01:18 PM PST by nickcarraway
The microbes make a compound that disrupts DNA formation in tumor cells
Certain skin-dwelling microbes may be anticancer superheroes, reining in uncontrolled cell growth. This surprise discovery could one day lead to drugs that treat or maybe even prevent skin cancer.
The bacteria’s secret weapon is a chemical compound that stops DNA formation in its tracks. Mice slathered with one strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis that makes the compound developed fewer tumors after exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation compared with those treated with a strain lacking the compound, researchers report online February 28 in Science Advances.
The findings highlight “the potential of the microbiome to influence human disease,” says Lindsay Kalan, a biochemist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Staphylococcal species are the most numerous of the many bacteria that normally live on human skin. Richard Gallo and his colleagues were investigating the antimicrobial powers of these bacteria when the team discovered a strain of S. epidermidis that made a compound — 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine, or 6-HAP for short — that looked a lot like one of the building blocks of DNA. “Because of that structure, we wondered if it interfered with DNA synthesis,” says Gallo, a physician scientist at the University of California, San Diego. In a test tube experiment, 6-HAP blocked the enzyme that builds DNA chains and prevented the chains from growing.tumors.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencenews.org ...
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
To be honest, I’ve always thought that people bathe way too much.
I shower twice a week... I work from home, so it works for me.
Does this mean if you have cancer you should not bath often.
Good to know.
Bathing encourages cancer.
I may have to forget my spring bath.
Not an excuse to quit bathing entirely. But there has been at times an obsession with eliminating all surface bacteria to the point where the immune system is ineffective. Exceptions of course is wound cleansing, someone performing certain medical procedures, working in food prep, etc.
There are certain levels where there is a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, the best known is in the digestive tract.
I doubt if it makes much difference. I bathe once a day which I suspect is about average. I have had so many skin cancers that I cannot remember them all. My Dr. removed one two days ago and will get two more after this one heals.
I have had all 3 types. Fortunately the melanoma was caught very early.
My Father and his family are very prone to skin cancer. Mother had black hair and blue eyes and fair skin but none of her family has had skin cancer.
Same conclusion.
I can’t tell you that that I have tried this.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 12 (UPI) — An MIT graduate and co-founder of leading microbiome startup, AOBiome, says he hasn’t showered in 12 years and hopes others will catch on.
Chemical engineer Dave Whitlock told the Boston Globe there is no scientific basis proving showers to be the basis of healthy human hygiene. “No one did clinical trials on people taking showers every day,” he said. According to him, showers and other products like shampoo strip good bacteria from human skin.
Instead of showering, Whitlock uses a spray of his own invention — Mother Dirt AO+ Mist — to keep his skin healthy and clean. As of this year, the spray is available for purchase by the public.
The AO+ Mist contains friendly ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, or AOB, which can act as skin cleansers to clean sweat and oil on the skin. The bacteria feed off of urea and ammonia in sweat and turn the substances into nitric oxide, which is good for the body’s blood vessels among other benefits.
“AOB were once a crucial part of the skin’s ecosystem, but they’ve been lost due to modern chemistry in today’s products and our lifestyles” said Jasmina Aganovic, AOBiome general manager of consumer products. “With Mother Dirt, we’re creating products that enhance and protect the skin biome. Last year we launched the AO+ Mist to a limited group and the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
Sounds like antimetabolite class like 5FU...or cytarabine..I wonder if they tested it against other human cells which are constantly dividing like our cancer fighting white cells or gi tract cells. Please note...antimetabolites have other short and long term effects and some of the chemicals may be associated with a second tumour.
The report is overly optimistic. Since antimetabolite type meds are associated with damage to DNA and chromosomes there may be other effects the study did not examine.
In one part of the study the treatment decreased the size of the tumours...not the incidence...not that selective...
One of the authors opine that perhaps we evolved a symbiotic relationship with the microbe to protect us from cancer. Highly conjectural. Perhaps the microbe is slowly killing us by inducing dna breaks in skin cells or other cells. Great symbiotic relationship...not.
If I were an epidemiologist..this finding would alert me to examine the long term TOXIC effects of naturally occurring antimetaboltes.
lol. Just put a car air freshner on you. I’ll put a tree cherry scent on myself.
When all is said and done, whatever schedule of showers works best for you is good as long as you’re presentable, healthy and hygienic.
Some people may need a shower daily. Others may be okay with longer intervals.
Might work but the wife is threatening me with a spray tank of Lysol. Better than a flame thrower I guess.
Swimming in salt water seems to be a natural activity.
Hmm, makes me wonder if our obsession with anti-bacterial skin lotions, etc. is a factor in the increase of skin cancer?
You’re supposed to be exposed to bacteria, that’s how you build up the resistance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.