Producing antibodies with attenuated bacteria with altered DNA adenine methylase activity

摘要

The present invention is directed towards methods of producing antibodies using an attenuated strain of pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Haemophilus, E. coli, and/or Salmonella) having non-reverting genetic mutations relative to the wild-type organism which alter activity of DNA adenine methylase (Dam). The invention further includes compositions comprised of the attenuated bacteria and methods using these compositions to elicit an immune response and immunize a subject with highly specific antibodies. The invention also provides methods producing antibodies to heterologous antigens which the attenuated bacteria are engineered to produce.