Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Arizona have developed a new strain of ultraviolet-emitting bacteria that can protect people against a range of UV-induced diseases.
In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers at the NIH and the UA, along with scientists at the Arizona Institute of Technology, were able to develop the UV-emit-sensitive UVW1 strain, which is able to protect people from ultraviolet-induced cancers and prevent premature death from UV-related diseases.
“This work is an important step forward in understanding the role of UV radiation in human health,” said Michael F. McGlone, Ph.
D., the study’s senior author and a research fellow at the UA.
“We believe that our UVW strain will provide a much more effective means to reduce the risks of the Sun and to protect against a variety of health conditions.”
Scientists have long known that ultraviolet radiation can damage cells in a variety