Mucosal targeting of therapeutic molecules using genetically modified lactic acid bacteria: an update

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) represent a heterogeneous group of microorganisms naturally present in many foods and those have proved to be effective mucosal delivery vectors. Moreover, some specific strains of LAB exert beneficial properties (known as probiotic effect) on both human and animal health. Although probiotic effects are strain-specific traits, it is theoretically possible, using genetic engineering techniques, to design strains that can exert a variety of beneficial properties. During the two past decades, a large variety of therapeutic molecules has been successfully expressed in LAB, and although this field has been largely reviewed in recent years, approximately 20 new publications appear each year. Thus, the aim of this minireview is not to extensively assess the entire literature but to update progress made within the last 2 years regarding the use of the model LAB Lactococcus lactis and certain species of lactobacilli as live recombinant vectors for the development of new safe mucosal vaccine. Fil: Leblanc, Jean Guy Joseph. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos (i); Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Investigacion. Catedra de Metodologia de la Invest.cientifica; Argentina; Fil: Aubry, Camille. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia; Fil: Cortes-Perez, Naima G.. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia; Fil: de Moreno, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos (i); Argentina; Fil: Vergnolle, Nathalie. INSERM; Francia; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia; Universite Paul Sabatier; Francia; Fil: Langella, Philippe. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia; Fil: Azevedo, Vasco. Universidade Federal Do Minas Gerais; Brasil; Fil: Chatel, Jean-Marc. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia; Fil: Miyoshi, Anderson. Universidade Federal Do Minas Gerais; Brasil; Fil: Berúdez-Humarán, Luis G.. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia