Unexpected outcome was found by researchers at University of Massachusetts Medical School-Salmonella bacteria may help treat resistant tumor cells. A protein called SipA (Salmonella invasion protein A) is produced by the bacteria that render a resistant tumor cell to be sensitive by reducing a molecular function in resistant cancer cells. Using gold nanoparticles as the protein delivery system, researchers were able to boost sensitivity of the cells towards chemotherapy. The protein affected the function of a common Transport protein called P-gp transporter. The transporter protein P-gp confer resistance to tumor cells by pumping chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs out of the cells. This study suggests that Salmonella Protein sipA can affect the transporter protein P-gp that confer resistance to chemotherapy.
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