Surface display on gram positive bacteria

Heterologous surface display on Gram-positive bacteria was first described almost a decade ago and has since then developed into an active research ar ea. Gram-positive bacterial surface display has today found a range of appl ications, in immunology, microbiology and biotechnology. Live bacterial vac cine delivery vehicles are being developed through the surface display of s elected foreign antigens on the bacterial surfaces. In this field, "second generation" vaccine delivery vehicles are at present being generated by the addition of mucosal targeting signals through co-display of adhesins, in o rder to achieve targeting of the live bacteria to immunoreactive sites to t hereby increase immune responses. Engineered Gram-positive bacteria are fur ther being evaluated as novel microbial biocatalysts with heterologous enzy mes immobilized as surface exposed on the bacterial cell surface. A discuss ion has started whether bacteria can find use as new types of whole-cell di agnostic devices since single-chain antibodies and other variants of tailor -made binding proteins can be displayed on bacteria. Bacteria with increase d binding capacity for certain metal ions can be created and potential envi ronmental or biosensor applications for such recombinant bacteria as biosor bents are being discussed. This article explains the basis of Grampositive bacterial surface display, and discusses current uses and possible future t rends of this emerging technology.