Japanese Researchers Identify Gut Bacterium YB328 That Activates Dendritic Cells and Enhances Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Published in Nature

Researchers at Japan's National Cancer Center have identified a specific gut bacterium that enhances the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The bacterium, belonging to the genus Ruminococcus and named "YB328," was found to be more abundant in patients who responded well to these therapies. Laboratory cultivation of YB328 has been successful, and experiments in mice demonstrated that this bacterium activates dendritic cells, thereby boosting the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells. The findings, published in the scientific journal Nature, suggest potential applications for developing new drugs that leverage this gut microbe to improve cancer treatment outcomes.