Researchers find good bacteria can temper chemotherapy side effects ANI | Updated: May 26, 2021 22:58 IST Washington [US], May 26 (ANI): A new Northwestern University study found that naturally occurring gut bacteria can clean up chemo toxins in the body. The study says that specific types of gut bacteria can protect other good bacteria from cancer treatments -- mitigating harmful, drug-induced changes to the gut microbiome. By metabolising chemotherapy drugs, the protective bacteria could temper short- and long-term side effects of treatment. The research was published on May 26 in the journal mSphere. Eventually, the research could potentially lead to new dietary supplements, probiotics or engineered therapeutics to help boost cancer patients' gut health. Because chemotherapy-related microbiome changes in children are linked to health complications later in life -- including obesity, asthma and diabetes -- discovering new strategies for protecting the gut is particularly important for pediatric cancer patients.