# Scientists finally discover how a common gut bacterium can trigger colon cancer

- Source: Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily
- Published: 2026-10-31T13:49:23+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261031012912.htm
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/scientists-finally-discover-how-a-common-gut-bacterium-can-trigger-col-d3aa2a/

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have uncovered a crucial missing link between a common gut bacterium and colorectal cancer, solving a mystery that has puzzled researchers for nearly two decades. The bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, produces a toxin that damages the colon’s protective lining, triggers chronic inflammation, and promotes tumor formation.

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