The bacterium Salmonella, potentially harmful to humans, has been shown to be useful in the treatment of cancer.

Scientists have found that it is able to form colonies around tumors and signal a threat to the immune system and used it to use it as a means of delivering signaling antigens to the tumor. Among mice that received bacterial therapy, 83% survived, while only 25% survived in the placebo control group. The scientists are now planning human trials.