abstract |
Compositions and methods for treating or reducing the severity or likelihood of occurrence of a parasitic worm or helminth infection in a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a killed or inactivated recombinant bacterium expressing a crystal protein such as a Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein (Cry) in the cytosol of the bacterium. The crystal proteins may be full length, truncated, variant, or sub-variant Cry proteins. Examples of crystal proteins include Cry5B, Cry21, Cry14A, Cry6A, and Cry13A. The recombinant bacteria may be treated with an anti-microbial agent before or during administration to a subject. |