Colon cancer toxin discovered in honeybee gut, study reveals.

On August 24, 2026, Nature Microbiology released a study focusing on a bacterial species found in honeybee guts and the toxin it produces. The research, led by Nancy A. Moran from the University of Texas at Austin and Emily P. Balskus from Harvard University, addresses common skepticism about insect gut studies. The bacterium in question produces colibactin, a toxin linked to human colorectal cancer research for the past two decades.