title: Bacterial ghosts as vaccine candidates for veterinary applications.
abstract: The application of new strategies to develop effective vaccines is essential in modern veterinary medicine. The bacterial ghost system is a novel vaccine delivery system endowed with intrinsic adjuvant properties. Bacterial ghosts are nonliving Gram-negative bacterial cell envelopes devoid of cytoplasmic contents while maintaining their cellular morphology and native surface antigenic structures including bioadhesive properties. They are produced by PhiX174 protein E-mediated lysis of Gram-negative bacteria. The intrinsic adjuvant properties of bacterial ghost preparations enhance immune responses against envelope bound antigens, including T-cell activation and mucosal immunity. Since native and foreign antigens can be expressed in the envelope complex of ghosts before E-mediated lysis, multiple antigens of various origins can be presented to the immune system simultaneously. The advantages of bacterial ghosts include the simplicity of the production method, safety, independence from the cold chain, and versatility as a combination vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Biotech Innovation Research Development and Consulting (BIRD-C GmbH and CoKEG), Schoenborngasse 12, A-1080, Vienna, Austria. jalava@bird-c.com
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jalava
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hensel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szostak
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D019155:Veterinary Drugs