A Systemic Review on Bacillus Subtilis Spore Structure and Its Applications in the Development of Mucosal Vaccines and Adjuvants

Abstract

Background and Aim Surface display technology enables the binding of proteins and peptides to the surface of living cells, including mammalian cells, yeast, bacteria, and spores. Among the various systems used for surface display, Bacillus subtilis spores have advantages such as resistance to adverse environmental conditions such as heat, radiation and chemicals, safety for humans and no need for the heterologous protein to pass the membranes for binding to spores. Methods & Materials This study is a review that investigates the structure of the Bacillus subtilis spore, spore surface display, and its application in the development of mucosal vaccines and adjuvants. Ethical Considerations All Ethical principles in writing this article have been observed according to the instructions of the National Ethics Committee and the COPE regulations. Results Heterologous proteins can be displayed genetically and non-genetically on the spore surface. The surface display is a promising strategy for the development of whole-cell factories with many industrial and biotechnological applications, leading to significant advances in the production of biocatalysts, the development of live vaccines, bio-adsorbents and sensors, epitope mapping, inhibitor design, and protein/peptide library screening. Conclusion It is hoped that oral vaccines of Bacillus subtilis spores will be of significant help in the prevention and treatment of diseases including COVID-19 in the future.