Lactococci as a protein delivery vehicle in the duodenum: application for the treatment of pancreatic lipase deficiencies.

The study of lactococci viability in the digestive tract of rats showed tha t L. lactis is resistant to the stomach but not the duodenal environment. T he use of Green Fluorescent Protein as a model protein in L. lactis showed that bacterial death is followed by lysis in the duodenum. Lactococci could therefore be used as vector to deliver its contents specifically in the du odenum. We have thus constructed a strain overexpressing lipase, an enzyme that requires targeting in the duodenum in order to treat pancreatic defici encies.