Grasshoppers, one of the insect species living on our planet, can have some interesting features, although they are known to scare many people. Scientists from Michigan State University in the USA also found that locust, or migratory locusts, as it is known, can distinguish cancerous cells from healthy cells by smell.
The researchers also stated that the locusts can distinguish between different cancer cells. This study, which reveals that grasshoppers can be used in early cancer diagnosis, was published on BioRxiv in the past months.
Grasshoppers could be used to build devices that can diagnose cancer
Let’s first say that people who are afraid of these insects need not worry about the possibility of locusts flocking to the practice. The researchers say the study findings could lay the groundwork for devices that use insect sensory neurons to detect cancer early, just by the patient’s breath.
Experts state that although it may seem like a dream now, such devices may become widespread in the future. This is because technologies that augment our natural senses and outperform them are common and useful. For example, telescopes and microscopes can show us things we can’t normally see. Saying that this is also the case with smell, scientists cite dogs used from COVID diagnosis to drug discovery as an example.
That’s why they’re working on a device that can mimic the sense of smell. Debajit Saha, one of the researchers, said that humanity has been working on devices that we can call ‘electronic nose’ for more than 15 years; however, he states that the desired perfection has not been reached yet.
Gas-sensing devices can save lives, especially by playing a role in the early detection of deadly diseases such as cancer. Experts emphasize the importance of this, saying that the survival of people with cancer, whose disease is detected in the first stage, is between 80% and 90%. Cancer cells work differently from healthy cells, forming different chemical compounds as they grow. The fact that these reach the patient’s respiratory tract shows that the disease can be detected by breathing.
Grasshoppers can distinguish three different cancers by smell
Working on the subject, the team chose to work with grasshoppers. By attaching electrodes to the animals’ brains, the researchers recorded their response to healthy and cancerous cells, with surprising results. These electrodes were placed to capture signals from antennae that grasshoppers use to detect odors. Experts stated that this system can be used in cancer diagnosis.
In addition, a very interesting ability of the locusts was discovered by the research. The team delivered a gas containing three different cancer cells to the locusts through a device they developed. As a result, it was seen that the brains of the locusts responded differently to each tissue and were able to identify sick cells. One of the researchers, Christopher Contag, said: “It was incredible that the insects were able to distinguish between three different cancers.”
According to the statements, scientists continue to work to detect detection systems with human breath. Aiming to develop insect-free, portable sensors with only biological components, the team emphasizes that these devices can play a big role in the early detection of cancer.
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