From Genome to Life:

LODI Federica

The Babraham Institute, Lab. Of Molecular Biology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT, United Kingdom

title: Isolation and Characterisation of a novel enhancer of mucosal antigen uptake

We have previously found that a non-intestinal bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, induces a marked increase in the number of higlhy specialized antigen-sampling M cells of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of Payer's Patch. In additional experiments we have found that a sterile, cell-free, extract from the gut of animals challenged with S. Pneumoniae was able to mimic the effects of viable bacteria. Thus, certain bacteria may have the key to improve mucosal antigen-uptake in the gut. We have designed a set of experiments that involve the use of Proteomics in order to identify soluble factors released or induced by bacteria upon interaction with host gut epithelium or immune system. We believe that the identification of molecules with such ability will represent an important step forward in order to design novel and more effective strategies for oral delivery of drugs and vaccines.