| abstract |
Proteinaceous, lipid-containing particles can be prepared by co-expressing in a host cell (i) a self-assembling protein moiety in circumstances where the protein assembles to form a core, which then buds off from the host cell, thereby acquiring a lipid envelope derived from the host cell membrane and (ii) a membrane-bound protein moiety, which becomes integrated in the lipid envelope. The particles have a wide variety of uses. They may be used as an antigen presentation system, or they may for example have site-specific targeting ability, fusogenic properties, enzymic activity, cytotoxic activity, diagnostic utility and/or pharmaceutical activity. |