Bacterial ghosts as carrier and targeting vehicles

Abstract

The invention concerns the use of bacterial ghosts as carrier and targeting vehicles for active substances.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising a bacterial ghost containing an active substance encapsulated therein, wherein the active substance is encapsulated in the bacterial ghost after preparation of the bacterial ghost. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 41 , wherein the active substance is a pharmaceutical substance, a labeling substance, a dye, an agricultural substance, a cosmetic substance, a salt, or an ionic substance. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the pharmaceutical substance is a polypeptide, an enzyme, a peptide, a nucleic acid, a low-molecular weight active substance, a hormone, an antibiotic, an anti-tumor agent, a steroid, or an immunomodulator. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the labeling substance is a diagnostic labeling substance. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the agricultural substance is an insecticide, a herbicide, an anti-nematode agent, an enzyme, a fertilizer, a growth promoter, or a water binding protein. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 41 , further comprising a receptor. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the receptor is located on the inside of the plasma membrane or is a non-integral membrane component. 
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 41 , further comprising a fusion protein.