@article{kajikawa_zhang_lavoy_bumgardner_klaenhammer_dean_2015, title={Mucosal Immunogenicity of Genetically Modified Lactobacillus acidophilus Expressing an HIV-1 Epitope within the Surface Layer Protein}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0141713}, abstractNote={Surface layer proteins of probiotic lactobacilli are theoretically efficient epitope-displaying scaffolds for oral vaccine delivery due to their high expression levels and surface localization. In this study, we constructed genetically modified Lactobacillus acidophilus strains expressing the membrane proximal external region (MPER) from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) within the context of the major S-layer protein, SlpA. Intragastric immunization of mice with the recombinants induced MPER-specific and S-layer protein-specific antibodies in serum and mucosal secretions. Moreover, analysis of systemic SlpA-specific cytokines revealed that the responses appeared to be Th1 and Th17 dominant. These findings demonstrated the potential use of the Lactobacillus S-layer protein for development of oral vaccines targeting specific peptides.}, number={10}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Kajikawa, Akinobu and Zhang, Lin and LaVoy, Alora and Bumgardner, Sara and Klaenhammer, Todd R. and Dean, Gregg A.}, year={2015}, month={Oct} }
 @article{kajikawa_zhang_long_nordone_stoeker_lavoy_bumgardner_klaenhammer_dean_2012, title={Construction and Immunological Evaluation of Dual Cell Surface Display of HIV-1 Gag and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium FliC in Lactobacillus acidophilus for Vaccine Delivery}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1556-6811"]}, DOI={10.1128/cvi.00049-12}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT
          
            Oral vaccines that elicit a mucosal immune response may be effective against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) because its transmission occurs mainly at the mucosa. The aim of this study was to construct recombinant
            Lactobacillus
            for oral delivery of oral vaccines against HIV-1 and to evaluate their immunogenicity. A recombinant
            Lactobacillus acidophilus
            strain expressing the HIV-1 Gag on the bacterial cell surface was established by fusion with the signal peptide and anchor motif of a mucus binding protein (Mub) from
            L. acidophilus
            with or without coexpression of
            Salmonella enterica
            serovar Typhimurium flagellin (FliC) fused to a different Mub signal peptide and anchor. Using HEK293 cells engineered to express Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), the biological activity of FliC on the bacterial cell surfaces was determined. The surface-exposed flagellin retained its TLR5-stimulating activity, suggesting that the recombinant strain with Gag and FliC dual display might provide a different immunopotency than the strain expressing only Gag. The immunological properties of the recombinant strains were assessed by coculture with human myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). The heterologous antigens on the cell surface affected maturation and cytokine responses of DCs. Acquired immune responses were also investigated by intragastric immunization of mice. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay showed induction of gamma interferon-producing cells at local mucosa after immunization of mice with the Gag-producing strain. Meanwhile, the immunization with
            L. acidophilus
            displaying both Gag and FliC resulted in an increase of Gag-specific IgA-secreting cells. These results suggested that the Gag-displaying
            L. acidophilus
            elicited specific immune responses and the coexistence of FliC conferred an adjuvant effect on local IgA production.
          }, number={9}, journal={CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY}, author={Kajikawa, Akinobu and Zhang, Lin and Long, Julie and Nordone, Shila and Stoeker, Laura and LaVoy, Alora and Bumgardner, Sara and Klaenhammer, Todd and Dean, Gregg}, year={2012}, month={Sep}, pages={1374–1381} }