Minicell
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In bacteriology, minicells are bacterial cells that are smaller than usual. The first minicells reported were from a strain of Escherichia coli that had a mutation in the Min System that lead to mis-localization of the septum during cell division and the production of cells of random sizes.[1][2]
Generation of minicells
The first report of minicells in scientific literature dates to 1930,[3] but the first use of the term "minicell" dates to 1967.[2]
Minicells of a variety of gram negative[4] and gram positive[5][6] bacteria, including Escherichia coli[7] and Salmonella enterica,[8] have been reported, but in principle, minicells could be generated for any bacterial species that can be genetically edited. Minicells cannot reproduce because they do not contain a full copy of the genome.[9]
Normal role of minicells in bacteriology
Scientists hypothesize that minicells are produced by normal bacteria in times of stress so that damaged areas of the cell can be expelled.[9]
Applications of minicells
Minicells have been extensively used to study ultrastructure of bacteria using electron cryotomography (cryoET).[10][11][12] Minicells are ideal for cryoET because they are small enough for the electron beam to penetrate in transmission electron microscopy.
Bacterial minicells are being developed as a drug delivery system.[13][14] Minicells could be used to deliver genetic material to eukaryotic cells for gene editing.[15] They are also being investigated for vaccine development.[16]