Progress in the development of mucosal vaccines based on Lactococcus lactis

This paper reviews recent work on the construction and characterisation of recombinant strains of Lactococcus lactis which are able to express immunogens derived from e.g. Clostridium tetani, H.I.V. - 1 and Schistosoma mansoni. The immunogenicity of these constructs has been tested in mice. In some instances it has been possible to elicit protective level systemic immune responses as well as significant mucosal response following certain types of mucosal route vaccination. These studies and the key issues which have emerged from them are discussed.