On March 17, 2025, researchers from East China Normal University (ECNU), led by Haifeng Ye and Ningzi Guan from the School of Life Sciences, published a pioneering study in Nature Cancer titled “Engineered bacteria for near-infrared light-inducible expression of cancer therapeutics.” The team developed light-activated oncolytic bacterial “warriors”—engineered microbes that can deliver cancer-fighting proteins directly to solid tumors, triggered precisely by near-infrared (NIR) light.
🧬 Background: A New Frontier in Tumor Immunotherapy
Solid tumors pose a major therapeutic challenge due to their hypoxic (low oxygen) and immunosuppressive microenvironments, which limit the effectiveness of traditional therapies. However, oncolytic bacteria—such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria—can naturally target and colonize these tumor regions. When engineered with tools from synthetic biology, these microbes become programmable “living drug factories” that can produce and release anticancer agents directly inside tumors.
Despite this promise, a major hurdle remains: how to safely and precisely control the expression of therapeutic genes in bacteria within the complex human body. Without tight regulation, such therapies risk uncontrolled protein expression and systemic side effects.
💡 The Breakthrough: Near-Infrared Light-Inducible Control
The ECNU team solved this issue by designing a near-infrared light-inducible system that allows for remote, spatiotemporal control of therapeutic gene expression inside tumors. Their engineered oncolytic bacteria remain dormant until exposed to NIR light, at which point they begin producing cancer-killing proteins exactly where and when they’re needed—enhancing safety and precision.
This innovation enables:
Non-invasive external control over bacterial therapy
Localized therapeutic protein production
Reduced off-target effects and improved efficacy
Precise timing of immune activation
🏆 Scientific Recognition
The accompanying Research Briefing in Nature Cancer praised the study’s novelty and clinical promise. Editors described the work as:
