Because LAB are generally thought to be incapable of invading
eukaryotic cells, strains were designed to interact with
eukaryotic cells, which would lead to their internalization.
Plasmid DNA transfer into eukaryotic cells has been intensively
studied using L. lactis that either extracellularly expresses
FnBPA protein (a fibronectin binding protein A of
S. aureus) or InlA (L. monocytogenes internalin)