Working Safely with Vaccinia Virus: Laboratory Technique and Review of Published Cases of Accidental Laboratory Infections with Poxviruses

Biosafety and immunology: An interdisciplinary field for health priority

Biosafety hazards can trigger a host immune response after infection, invasion, or contact with the host. Whether infection with a microorganism results in disease or biosafety concerns depends to a large extent on the immune status of the population. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the immunological characteristics of the host and the mechanisms of biological threats and agents to protect the host more effectively. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, have raised concerns regarding both biosafety and immunology worldwide. Interdisciplinary studies involved in biosafety and immunology are relevant in many fields, including the development of vaccines and other immune interventions such as monoclonal antibodies and T-cells, herd immunity (or population-level barrier immunity), immunopathology, and multispecies immunity, i.e., animals and even plants. Meanwhile, advances in immunological science and technology are occurring rapidly, resulting in important research achievements that may contribute to the recognition of emerging biosafety hazards, as well as early warning, prevention, and defense systems. This review provides an overview of the interdisciplinary field of biosafety and immunology. Close collaboration and innovative application of immunology in the field of biosafety is becoming essential for human health.

Oncolytic viruses encoding bispecific T cell engagers: a blueprint for emerging immunovirotherapies

Bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) are an innovative class of immunotherapeutics that redirect T cells to tumor surface antigens. While efficacious against certain hematological malignancies, limited bioavailability and severe toxicities have so far hampered broader clinical application, especially against solid tumors. Another emerging cancer immunotherapy are oncolytic viruses (OVs) which selectively infect and replicate in malignant cells, thereby mediating tumor vaccination effects. These oncotropic viruses can serve as vectors for tumor-targeted immunomodulation and synergize with other immunotherapies. In this article, we discuss the use of OVs to overcome challenges in BiTE therapy. We review the current state of the field, covering published preclinical studies as well as ongoing clinical investigations. We systematically introduce OV-BiTE vector design and characteristics as well as evidence for immune-stimulating and anti-tumor effects. Moreover, we address additional combination regimens, including CAR T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and further strategies to modulate the tumor microenvironment using OV-BiTEs. The inherent complexity of these novel therapeutics highlights the importance of translational research including correlative studies in early-phase clinical trials. More broadly, OV-BiTEs can serve as a blueprint for diverse OV-based cancer immunotherapies.