Abstract: Modified bacterium obtainable by transformation of a gram-negative bacterium with the gene of a lytically-active membrane protein from bacteriophages or with the gene of a lytically-active toxin release gene or with genes which contain partial sequences thereof coding for lytic proteins, culturing the bacterium, expression of this lysis gene and isolation of the bacterium modified in this way from the culture broth for use as a vaccine or adjuvant.