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Bacterial ghosts--biological particles as delivery systems for antigens, nucleic acids and drugs.

Tabrizi CA, Walcher P, Mayr UB, Stiedl T, Binder M, McGrath J, Lubitz W

Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Section Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZAII, 2B 522, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Despite the exponential rate of discovery of new antigens and DNA vaccines resulting from modern molecular biology and proteomics, the lack of effective delivery technology is a major limiting factor in their application. The bacterial ghost system represents a platform technology for antigen, nucleic acid and drug delivery. Bacterial ghosts have significant advantages over other engineered biological delivery particles, owing to their intrinsic cellular and tissue tropic abilities, ease of production and the fact that they can be stored and processed without the need for refrigeration. These particles have found both veterinary and medical applications for the vaccination and treatment of tumors and various infectious diseases.

Published 24 November 2004 in Curr Opin Biotechnol, 15(6): 530-7.
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