Genome of an anti-tumor bacteria December 12, 2006

The genome of the anaerobe Clostridium Novyi-NT is described in the current issue of Nature Biotech. This bacteria is particularly amazing in its ability to thrive in the hypoxic core of tumors. Colonization by the bacteria eventually leads to the destruction of the tumor. The associated whole-genome expression analysis yields some interesting observations, such as the presence of mRNAs in the spores formed by the bacteria.