A group of local scientists say it has found a way to use tuberculosis bacilli to treat cancer.

The group, led by Chungnam National University Professor Shin Sung-jae and Pusan National University Professor Park Yeong-min, said Monday that by using certain proteins and cells in the tuberculosis bacteria, it developed a vaccine that is effective in treating cancer.

The scientists said the recent study has opened the possibility of treating incurable autoimmune diseases by using certain antigens from the tuberculosis bacilli as an immune adjuvant.

The group’s recent study was published in the U.S. academic journal, “Cancer Research.”