Delivery and expression of a hybrid surface protein on the surface of gram positive bacteria

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
An isolated and purified DNA molecule encoding a hybrid protein, said hybrid protein comprising a heterologous polypeptide attached to the N-terminal end of the anchor region of a surface antigen of gram positive bacteria, wherein said DNA molecule, when expressed by gram positive bacteria, is expressed as a surface protein, with the anchor region bound to the bacteria and the heterologous peptide exposed on the surface of the bacteria.
2.
A plasmid comprising the isolated and purified DNA molecule according to claim 1.
3.
A chromosome comprising the isolated and purified DNA molecule according to claim 1.
4.
The plasmid pVMB20, deposited at the American Type Culture Collection under the accession number PTA433.
5.
The plasmid pVMB21.
6.
The S.
gordonii strain GP246.
7.
An isolated and purified non-pathogenic gram positive bacteria which expresses a hybrid surface protein comprising an anchor sequence which is attached to the bacteria fused to a heterologous polypeptide, wherein said anchor sequence is the anchor sequence of a surface antigen of a gram positive bacteria.
8.
The isolated and purified non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria according to claim 7 wherein the heterologous polypeptide is an enzyme.
9.
The isolated and purified non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria according to claim 7 wherein the heterologous polypeptide is a surface antigen of a mammalian tumor cell.
10.
The isolated and purified non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria according to claim 7 wherein the heterologous polypeptide is a surface antigen of male sperm.
11.
The isolated and purified gram-positive bacteria according to claim 7 wherein the heterologous polypeptide is an allergen.
12.
The isolated and purified non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria according to claim 7 wherein the heterologous polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of an antigenic determinant of a surface antigen of a bacteria, an antigenic determinant of a surface antigen of a virus, an antigenic determinant of a surface antigen of a parasite, and an antigenic determinant of a surface antigen of a fungus