Figure 1.

Schematic summary of the various bacterial mechanisms utilized in BBCT. (1) Anaerobic facultative bacteria specifically target the hypoxic environment of tumors initiating an inflammatory reaction resulting in tumor destruction. (2) Bacteriobots for cancer therapy, which involve targeting controlled drug release, improved cell adhesion, and improved penetration into the cell. (3) Bacterial virulence factors (e.g., msbB, purl, relA, SpoT) can be bioengineered to reduce toxicity and increase tumor cell death. (4) Bacterial toxins, such as the bacterial secretory system (T1SS and T3SS), can be used to inhibit the growth of solid tumors. (5) Bacterial mutations help delivery of immunomodulators such as cytokines, chemokines, and small molecules along with immune checkpoint antibodies, which can stimulate anti-tumor responses. This figure was created using Biorender.com.