A sugar compound found in deep-sea bacteria can kill cancer cells through pyroptosis, by making them explode from the inside out, researchers have found. The compound, EPS3.9, made of mannose and glucose, is produced by Spongiibacter bacteria. Researchers found that EPS3.9 targets 5 membrane phospholipid molecules and exerts tumour toxicity by stimulating pyroptosis in human leukaemia cells.