TEHRAN – Iran has announced plans to acquire the know-how to produce microbial toxins with applications in cancer treatment, according to an Iranian microbiologist on Saturday.

Abbas Ali Imanfouladi, who was also the executive secretary of Iran’s 17th international congress of microbiology, called the technique one of the latest findings in the field of microbiology in Iran.
“There used to be a time when microbes and their toxins were considered harmful, but today, the same substance is used for its medicinal properties for treating a wide scope of diseases.” 
Very lower doses of microbial toxins are of use mainly in treating cancers such as breast, ovaries, intestines, colon, etc. 
The studies on the microbial toxins launched between 7 to 8 years ago, he noted, and a team of microbiology researchers have been at it since 5 years ago.
Imanfoladi hoped the research plan paves the way for researchers to take major steps in the development of new drugs in cancer treatment.
The scientist added no medicine has hit the market in Iran using microbial toxins yet, though international researchers have introduced two to three drugs to cancer patients through the same technique.
Microbial toxins are toxins produced by micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi. They promote infection and disease by directly damaging host tissues and by disabling the immune system. Some bacterial toxins, such as Botulinum neurotoxins, are the most potent natural toxins known.