What if the same bacteria causing acne could help fight cancer? 🦠✨ In this mind-bending episode, we dive into a real study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology titled “Melanoma cell survival is suppressed by splenocytes stimulated by Cutibacterium acnes.” Yep, you read that right—our so-called skin troublemaker might just have a secret hero arc.

I’m Steven Christian, your friendly neighborhood MD/PhD student and creator of Cütie Catcherz, the AR-powered comic that turns microbiology into magical storytelling. And today, we’re cracking open the science behind how C. acnes might trigger an immune response that helps kill melanoma cells. 🧬🧠💥

Tune in for:

• How C. acnes–stimulated immune cells attacked melanoma cells in the lab
  

• Why our skin bacteria might not be villains after all
  

• What this means for immunity, inflammation, and yes, the world of Cütie Catcherz
  

• How science inspires deeper, more empathetic storytelling about our bodies
  

💡 This isn’t just microbiome 101. It’s the blueprint for how "bad guys" in biology might wear hidden capes.

📚 Citation: Matsushima et al., J Invest Dermatol, 2019

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2019.03.559

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