Generation of mucosal vaccine utilizing Lactobacillus display system

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a group of Gram-positive, and generally recognized as safe bacteria. LAB have been used as the starter for the fermentation food (i.e., cheese, yoghurt and kimuchi etc.). On the other hand, several studies of LAB as delivery vehicles have focused on the generation of mucosal vaccine.We have developed novel surface display system based on PgsA gene, which isolated from Bacillus subtilis chungkookjang. We introduce the Lactobacillus surface display system by using the PgsA anchor protein and its application. HPV oncogene, E7, is a reliable target protein since E7 is expressed in the CIN lesion. Although many studies have demonstrated these vaccines elicit systemic immune responses to HPV E6/E7, few studies have shown mucosal immune responses. There is no therapeutic vaccine utilizing oral administration and there is no clinical trial which addresses cervical mucosal cellular immune responses to the vaccine. Our recent progress is production of a mucosal vaccine to treat cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) that has potential of cervical cancer. The vaccine is expected to help the vast number of women suffering from high grade CIN. Lac-E7 is a candidate for new therapeutic vaccine for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. © 2009 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.