title: Live bacterial vaccine vectors: an overview.
abstract: Genetically attenuated microorganisms, pathogens, and some commensal bacteria can be engineered to deliver recombinant heterologous antigens to stimulate the host immune system, while still offering good levels of safety. A key feature of these live vectors is their capacity to stimulate mucosal as well as humoral and/or cellular systemic immunity. This enables the use of different forms of vaccination to prevent pathogen colonization of mucosal tissues, the front door for many infectious agents. Furthermore, delivery of DNA vaccines and immune system stimulatory molecules, such as cytokines, can be achieved using these special carriers, whose adjuvant properties and, sometimes, invasive capacities enhance the immune response. More recently, the unique features and versatility of these vectors have also been exploited to develop anti-cancer vaccines, where tumor-associated antigens, cytokines, and DNA or RNA molecules are delivered. Different strategies and genetic tools are constantly being developed, increasing the antigenic potential of agents delivered by these systems, opening fresh perspectives for the deployment of vehicles for new purposes. Here we summarize the main characteristics of the different types of live bacterial vectors and discuss new applications of these delivery systems in the field of vaccinology.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Química Universidade Federal de São Carlos São CarlosSP Brazil Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adilson José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Química Universidade Federal de São Carlos São CarlosSP Brazil Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Zangirolami
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Evolução Universidade Federal de São Carlos São CarlosSP Brazil Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Marques
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Novo-Mansur
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Química Universidade Federal de São Carlos São CarlosSP Brazil Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto de Campos
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia Instituto Butantan São PauloSP Brazil Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Angélica Leme
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004337:Drug Carriers; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
keywords: DNA vaccine; antigen presentation; bacterial vector; cancer vaccine; vaccine delivery system