About the Investigator:

Dr. Gilad Bachrach’s group investigates the role of bacteria in cancer development (BactriOncology), and are searching for ways to utilize bacteria for cancer detection and treatment. Dr. Bachrach received his B.S. in Biology, M.S. in Microbiology and his PhD in Clinical Microbiology in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He then followed to a post-doctorate in Molecular Microbiology at the National Institute of Medical Research in London followed with a year at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH) to gain experience in the field of Oral Microbiology prior to his return to the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine where he is a professor today.

About the Research:

BacteriOncology, the study of bacterial involvement in cancer, is a rapidly advancing research field. Among its key players is Fusobacterium nucleatum, an oral bacterium primarily associated with periodontal disease. Surprisingly, F. nucleatum has been identified as overabundant in colorectal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers, where its presence correlates with poor treatment outcomes.

Dr. Bachrach’s group was among the first to genetically manipulate this bacterium. Their previous ICRF-funded research demonstrated that F. nucleatum colonizes tumors by binding to the Gal-GalNAc sugar moiety, which is overexpressed on certain cancers. They further showed that F. nucleatum is prevalent in human breast cancer and selectively colonizes mammary tumors in mice, where it promotes tumor growth and metastasis. While antibiotic treatment effectively inhibits these effects, it can interfere with standard cancer therapies.

To overcome this challenge, the team is developing targeted strategies to combat F. nucleatum. Their current focus is on a fusobacterial protease they discovered, named FUSOLISIN, which they believe supports bacterial survival and promotes tumor growth. Preliminary results reveal that inhibiting FUSOLISIN not only kills intratumoral F. nucleatum but also triggers an inflammatory response that suppresses tumor progression. Dr. Bachrach’s team aims to develop specific FUSOLISIN inhibitors as a novel therapeutic approach to eradicate tumors colonized by fusobacteria.