Researchers at the University of East Anglia are working on new cancer treatments that address a fundamental cause of chemotherapy resistance. The research centers on a type of antibiotic produced by Streptomyces bacteria, which live symbiotically with leaf cutter ants. "We're using genetics to understand how the drugs are made in the bacteria so we can tweak the characteristics in favor of anti-cancer action, whilst protecting healthy cells," lead researcher Matt Hutchings said. "We want to make Streptomyces into a factory to produce a new type of chemotherapy drug on a large scale."