Basic research on Listeria bacteria leads to unique cancer therapy

Dr. Daniel Portnoy and his collaborators at UC Berkeley are turning decades of fundamental research on Listeria bacteria into a promising new cancer immunotherapy. Their engineered version of the bacterium is being developed to boost the body’s innate immune response and is headed toward clinical testing in pediatric leukemia patients, with potential applications for other cancers as well. Their work highlights how basic science can lead to transformative medical advances. Read more about the fascinating story here.