Researchers at Colorado State University, in collaboration with North Carolina State University, have developed a way to use beneficial bacteria—commonly found in probiotics—as a platform to deliver vaccines. This technology allows vaccines to be taken by mouth, instead of by injection. It can target a wide range of viruses, including coronaviruses, and is designed to work at mucosal surfaces like the mouth and gut. This approach could make vaccines easier to store, ship, and give to people worldwide.
Traditional vaccines usually require needles, cold storage, and trained medical staff for administration. Many pathogens, like respiratory viruses, enter the body through mucosal surfaces, where injectable vaccines may not provide strong protection. Oral vaccines can help, but they often lack stability or effectiveness. By engineering bacteria that already live in the body to safely express viral antigens, this technology introduces a new way to create more accessible and effective mucosal vaccines.
This innovation uses genetically engineered Lactobacillus strains—safe, naturally occurring bacteria often found in the human mouth and gut—to deliver viral antigens directly to mucosal surfaces. The bacteria are modified to express key viral proteins, such as the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2, on their surface or secrete them in a form that stimulates the immune system. When taken orally, these engineered probiotics interact with the mucosal immune system, potentially triggering both mucosal and systemic immunity. This platform can be adapted for different viruses by swapping in genetic sequences from various pathogens, including other human coronaviruses, rotaviruses or influenza viruses. In preclinical studies, the system showed strong antigen expression and remained stable in the gastrointestinal environment. Compared to traditional vaccines, this method could simplify production and distribution by removing the need for needles and refrigeration, while improving immunity where many infections begin.
Available for Licensing, Collaboration, and Funding
Gregg Dean
Rodolphe Barrangou
Steve Foster
Steve.Foster@colostate.edu
970-491-7100