(NBC News) – Antibiotic use in children may contribute to bacteria in the gut that produce the chemical.

A gut toxin that’s been linked to colorectal cancers for more than two decades may be contributing to the sharp rise of the disease in younger people, according to landmark research published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

A number of species of harmful gut bacteria — including certain strains of E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter koseri — produce a toxin called colibactin. Since the mid 2000s, studies have repeatedly shown that this toxin can inflict distinct DNA damage on colon cells that’s difficult to repair and can eventually lead to the development of cancer. (Read More)