BFT Toxin Target Discovered | Science News

Scientists have cracked the mystery of how a common gut bacterium triggers colon cancer — and it’s all about a sneaky toxin that hijacks a key cell receptor. Researchers at Johns Hopkins discovered that the toxin BFT binds to claudin-four, a protein on colon cells, to break down the protective barrier and set off inflammation and tumor growth. Using CRISPR screening, they pinpointed claudin-four as the critical target — and when they blocked it, the toxin couldn’t harm cells. Now, they’ve engineered a decoy protein that successfully traps the toxin in mice, offering a promising new strategy to stop colon cancer before it starts. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8e4bdc23b67fbbe7