Incidence and mortality due to colon cancer in Indonesia are still relatively high. However, early screening and treatment can reduce mortality. A team of UGM students developed a colon (colorectal) cancer screening method using the modified Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) probiotic bacteria. The team consists of Nayaka Bagus Wahyu Agung Hertanto, Sovann Amadeus, Ofadhani Afwan, and Yohannes Edward GP from the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FKKMK), and Maria Indra Ardriyanto from the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy. They confirmed that the research with these bacteria could detect (screen) colorectal cancer cells.
Nayaka, as the head of the student team, said that they got the idea for this research during a seminar at the UGM Faculty of Biology. The seminar explained that organisms such as bacteria can be modified to secrete proteins. In addition, based on the results of other studies, the probiotic bacteria Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) has increased in colon cancer patients. “Finally, we wondered if it was possible to modify the bacteria and then develop it to detect cancer. From there, this research started,” said Nayaka, Monday (25/10).
The research process took four months and started from a literature study. Based on the results, the team concluded that if the modified bacteria were treated in both normal and cancerous colons, it would show increased colons with colorectal cancer. “We developed the spelling for easy detection by modifying this spelling to emit a fluorescent protein that fluoresces under UV light. In this case, we do not need a complicated method to test spelling. We only need a UV lamp. The modified spelling can glow when exposed to UV light so that it can be observed directly in the feces,” Nayaka explained.
In general, the team hopes that the research can be taken to the next stage, and this screening tool will help detect colorectal cancer early. “I think this is a problem that we must face together as medical workers,” said Sovann Amadeus.
The research entitled “Potential for Provision of Modified Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) Probiotic Bacteria as a Screening Tool for Colorectal Cancer” has succeeded in bringing the UGM Student Team to the 34th PIMNAS competition on 26-30 October 2021.
