title: Bacterial ghosts as carrier and targeting systems for mucosal antigen delivery.
abstract: The application of new strategies to develop effective vaccines is essential in modern 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 origin can be presented to the immune system simultaneously. In addition, the extended bacterial ghost system represents a platform technology for specific targeting of DNA-encoded antigens to primary antigen-presenting cells. The potency, safety and relatively low production cost of bacterial ghosts offer a significant technical advantage, especially when used as combination vaccines.
authors.affiliation: BIRD-C GmbH & CoKEG, Wien, Austria. jalava@bird-c.com
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jalava
authors.forename: Francis O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Eko
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riedmann
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubitz
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology*; D022121:Cholera Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000941:Antigens; D022121:Cholera Vaccines; C029555:E protein, bacteriophage X174; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014764:Viral Proteins