Chimeric proteins are expressed, secreted or released by a bacterium to immunize against or treat a parasite, infectious
disease or
malignancy. The delivery vector may also be attenuated, non-pathogenic,
low pathogenic, or a
probiotic bacterium. The chimeric proteins include chimeras of, e.g., phage coat and / or
colicin proteins, bacterial toxins and / or enzymes, autotransporter peptides, lytic peptides, multimerization domains, and / or membrane transducing (ferry) peptides. The active portion of the immunogenic chimeric proteins can include antigens against a wide range of parasites and infectious agents, cancers, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and have enhanced activity when secreted or released by the
bacteria, and / or have direct anti-parasite or
infectious agent activity. The activity of the secreted proteins is further increased by co-expression of a
protease inhibitor that prevents degradation of the
effector peptides. Addition of an
antibody binding or
antibody-degrading
protein further prevents the premature
elimination of the vector and enhances the immune response.