Bacteria may be converted to so-called „ghosts“, i.e. essentially be reduced to their inner and outer membranes. Thus, the pathogenic functions are eliminated whereas the capacity to cell invasion is preserved. Ghosts can be loaded with a variety of substances and thus be used for a more efficient application of these substances at the cellular level.
In cooperation with Professor Werner Lubitz (Dept. Medical/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna) we investigate the possibilties of this system in chemoprevention strategies.