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Do BMMFs, the novel infectious agents found in dairy products and bovine sera, play a role in the development of colorectal cancer? Scientists led by Harald zur Hausen detected the pathogens in colorectal cancer patients in close proximity to tumors. The researchers show that the BMMFs trigger local chronic inflammation, which can cause mutations via activated oxygen molecules and thus promote cancer development in the long term. BMMFs and inflammatory markers were significantly more frequently detectable in the vicinity of malignant intestinal tumors than in the intestinal tissue of tumor-free individuals.
A few years ago, scientists led by Ethel-Michele de Villiers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) discovered a novel form of infectious agents in dairy products and bovine sera. These were ring-shaped DNA elements that showed great similarity to sequences of certain bacterial plasmids. They were named "Bovine Meat and Milk Factors" (BMMFs) after their origin in bovine products.