| abstract |
Methods and compostions related to the fields of bacteriology, immunology and gene therapy are provided. In general modified microflora for the delivery of vaccines, allergens and therapeutics to the mucosal surfaces of the respiratory tract are provided. In particular, the compositions and methods are directed at inducing an M-cell mediated immune response to pathogenic diseases. Specifically, methods of vaccine preparation, delivery and mucosal immunization using a Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), yeast and LAB that have been modified through fusion with E. coli to either present on its cell surface, or secrete, antigenic epitopes derived from pathogenic microorganisms and/or to secrete a therapeutic protein sequence are disclosed. |