After half a decade of sweeping the country’s ocean floors, researchers at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo have made a major breakthrough: they have uncovered a marine bacteria in the Tubbataha Reefs that might just become the potential cure for certain cancers.
In a series of tests, this newly identified species named Streptomyces tubbatahanensis demonstrated its potential to halt the growth of colon and ovarian cancer cells. The Pinoy scientists’ findings were published in the American Society for Microbiology Journal.
The newly discovered marine bacteria, a member of the bacterial powerhouse Streptomyces genus, has already churned out many antibiotics used to treat many infections today.
Found in the bacteria is a compound called Chlocarbazomycin A, believed to wield both antibiotic and anticancer properties.
While the scientists are cautiously optimistic, they acknowledge that more years and extensive testing are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of these compounds.
“But as they say, we still have a long way to go, but we have also gone a long way,” said Chuckcris Tenebro, the study’s lead author, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
This groundbreaking discovery was inspired by the 1950s finding of the antibiotic erythromycin from Iloilo’s soil, noted Tenebro, adding that this gave them the idea to explore untapped marine sediments across the Philippines in search of new antibiotics.
