Plasmid-Based Gene Expression Systems for Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Review

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Food Science

Background:

• Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are vital in food production, preservation, and as probiotics, offering health benefits by colonizing the gastrointestinal tract.
• LAB serve as efficient bio-incubators for producing therapeutic proteins and have been engineered as vectors for targeted drug delivery.
• Recombinant LAB are explored for treating various conditions, including diabetes, cancer, viral, and gastrointestinal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing plasmid-based gene expression systems for lactic acid bacteria (LAB).
• To evaluate the functionality, potency, and limitations of current LAB vector systems.
• To identify the need for developing novel, stable, and effective gene expression platforms for genetically engineered LAB.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of plasmid-based gene expression systems in LAB.
• Analysis of vector functionality, host specificity, stability, and carrying capacity.
• Identification of constraints and challenges in current LAB genetic engineering tools.

Main Results:

• A limited number of constitutive and inducible plasmid vectors have been developed for LAB.
• Existing vectors exhibit constraints such as limited availability, host specificity, instability, and low carrying capacity.
• These limitations restrict the broad application spectrum of genetically engineered LAB.

Conclusions:

• Plasmid-based gene expression systems are essential for developing genetically engineered LAB for therapeutic applications.
• Current LAB vector systems face significant challenges that hinder their widespread use.
• There is a critical need for the development of new, more stable, and efficient gene expression platforms for LAB.