LSI Challenge: Health

This project aims to determine if bacteria in tumours are friend or foe

Multiple bacteria genera exist in many patient tumour types. However, it is still unknown whether different microbial signatures are the cause of, or a product of, the development of cancer. The role of intratumoural bacteria such as F. nucleatum in tumour progression is now well-acknowledged and bacteria can influence the immune system, perhaps even impact the response to therapy. Ashiq is examining the biology underlying bacteria/immune cell interaction (F. nucleatum) in cell lines and 3D organoid models of gastric, colon and oesophageal cancer, as well as assessing the impact of bacteria on immune-mediated targeted therapy efficacy in these cancer types.v