Breakthrough in Cancer Gene Therapy: New Insights from Universidad Catolica del Maule

Strategic Insights -

Investigators at the Universidad Catolica del Maule in Talca, Chile, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of cancer gene therapy. Researchers isolated a thermotolerant bacterial strain, Bacillus licheniformis Tol1, from the Tolhuaca hot spring in Chile, and investigated its genomic features and the functional properties of its exopolysaccharide (EPS). The study revealed a rich repertoire of genes associated with environmental stress adaptation, antibiotic resistance, and EPS biosynthesis, including the presence of epsD and epsC.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that Bacillus licheniformis Tol1 has a 4.25 Mbp genome with a GC content of 45.9%, indicating its ability to adapt to environmental stress.
  • The strain exhibited robust biofilm formation at 45-55°C under neutral to slightly alkaline pH, with strong EPS matrix development.
  • EPS production was optimized, achieving a yield of 2.11 g L-1 under optimized conditions, which was further validated using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model (R2 = 0.9909).
  • The EPS exhibited promising antioxidant activity, significant emulsification potential across various vegetable oils, and cytotoxic effects against AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, reducing viability by 38.38 and 37% at 50-100 mg mL-1 concentrations, respectively.
  • The study highlights the potential of B. licheniformis Tol1 as a multifunctional thermophile with valuable biotechnological potential, particularly for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.
  • The research team, led by Cynthia Meza, Doctorado en Biotecnologia Traslacional, includes several international authors from various research institutions.

Statistics:

  • 4.25 Mpb genome size of Bacillus licheniformis Tol1
  • GC content of 45.9% in the genome of B. licheniformis Tol1
  • 2.11 g L-1 EPS yield under optimized conditions
  • R2 value of 0.9909 for the ANN model in validating EPS production
  • 38.38% reduction in viability of AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells at 50 mg mL-1 EPS concentration
  • 37% reduction in viability of AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells at 100 mg mL-1 EPS concentration

Sources:

  • "Genomic basis and functional characterization of the exopolysaccharide production by a thermotolerant Bacillus isolated from Tolhuaca hot spring." Frontiers in Microbiology, 2025,16.
  • Universidad Catolica del Maule
  • Frontiers in Microbiology (http://www.frontiersin.org/microbiology)
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1622325
  • Cynthia Meza, Doctorado en Biotecnologia Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Catolica del Maule, Talca, Chile.