Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts into Melanocytes
Published on: August 27, 2021
Effective gene transfer to melanoma cells using bacterial ghosts
Pavol Kudela1, Susanne Paukner, Ulrike Beate Mayr
1Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska, Bratislava, Slovakia. pavol.kudela@savba.sk
Abstract:
Bacterial ghosts (BG) are cell envelopes preparations of Gram-negative bacteria devoid of cytoplasmic content produced by controlled expression of PhiX174 plasmid-encoded lysis gene E. Eight melanoma cell lines were investigated for their capacity to bind and phagocyte BG derived from Escherichia coli NM522 and Mannheimia haemolytica A23. High capability to bind BG was observed in almost all of the analyzed cell lines, furthermore cells were able to take up BG independently of the used bacterial species. Further, transfection efficiency of BG loaded with DNA in vitro was measured. The Bowes cells exhibited a high expression level of GFP and the incubation of cells with plasmid loaded BG led up to 82% transfection efficiency.
Insights
Bacterial ghosts (BG) effectively bind and are phagocytosed by melanoma cells. These bacterial ghosts demonstrate high potential for gene delivery, achieving up to 82% transfection efficiency in specific cell lines.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Bacterial ghosts (BG) are derived from Gram-negative bacteria, lacking cytoplasmic content.
- They are produced via controlled expression of the PhiX174 lysis gene E.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the binding and phagocytosis of bacterial ghosts by melanoma cell lines.
- To evaluate the transfection efficiency of DNA-loaded bacterial ghosts in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Eight melanoma cell lines were analyzed for their interaction with BG from Escherichia coli and Mannheimia haemolytica.
- Transfection efficiency was measured using BG loaded with plasmid DNA.
Main Results:
- Most melanoma cell lines showed a high capacity for binding BG.
- Melanoma cells successfully phagocytosed BG, irrespective of the bacterial species used.
- Bowes cells achieved up to 82% transfection efficiency when incubated with plasmid-loaded BG.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial ghosts are readily bound and internalized by various melanoma cell lines.
- BG show significant promise as a non-viral vector for gene delivery in cancer research.
