1
|
Riedl A, Bojková D, Tan J, Jeney Á, Larsen PK, Jeney C, Full F, Kalinke U, Ruzsics Z. Construction and Characterization of a High-Capacity Replication-Competent Murine Cytomegalovirus Vector for Gene Delivery. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:791. [PMID: 39066429 PMCID: PMC11281640 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We investigated the basic characteristics of a new murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) vector platform. Using BAC technology, we engineered replication-competent recombinant MCMVs with deletions of up to 26% of the wild-type genome. To this end, we targeted five gene blocks (m01-m17, m106-m109, m129-m141, m144-m158, and m159-m170). BACs featuring deletions from 18% to 26% of the wild-type genome exhibited delayed virus reconstitution, while smaller deletions (up to 16%) demonstrated reconstitution kinetics similar to those of the wild type. Utilizing an innovative methodology, we introduced large genomic DNA segments, up to 35 kbp, along with reporter genes into a newly designed vector with a potential cloning capacity of 46 kbp (Q4). Surprisingly, the insertion of diverse foreign DNAs alleviated the delayed plaque formation phenotype of Q4, and these large inserts remained stable through serial in vitro passages. With reporter-gene-expressing recombinant MCMVs, we successfully transduced not only mouse cell lines but also non-rodent mammalian cells, including those of human, monkey, bovine, and bat origin. Remarkably, even non-mammalian cell lines derived from chickens exhibited successful transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Riedl
- Medical Center, Institute of Virology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany (F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Denisa Bojková
- Medical Center, Institute of Virology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany (F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Virology, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jiang Tan
- Medical Center, Institute of Virology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany (F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ábris Jeney
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pia-Katharina Larsen
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Hanover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | - Csaba Jeney
- Department of Microsystems Engineering—IMTEK, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florian Full
- Medical Center, Institute of Virology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany (F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Hanover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | - Zsolt Ruzsics
- Medical Center, Institute of Virology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany (F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Funk C, Uhlig N, Ruzsics Z, Baur F, Peindl M, Nietzer S, Epting K, Vacun G, Dandekar G, Botteron C, Werno C, Grunwald T, Bailer SM. TheraVision: Engineering platform technology for the development of oncolytic viruses based on herpes simplex virus type 1. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200784. [PMID: 38596296 PMCID: PMC10950833 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are able to efficiently penetrate cells, multiply, and eventually kill infected cells, release tumor antigens, and activate the immune system. Therefore, viruses are highly attractive novel agents for cancer therapy. Clinical trials with first generations of oncolytic viruses (OVs) are very promising but show significant need for optimization. The aim of TheraVision was to establish a broadly applicable engineering platform technology for combinatorial oncolytic virus and immunotherapy. Through genetic engineering, an attenuated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) was generated that showed increased safety compared to the wild-type strain. To demonstrate the modularity and the facilitated generation of new OVs, two transgenes encoding retargeting as well as immunomodulating single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were integrated into the platform vector. The resulting virus selectively infected epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing cells and produced a functional immune checkpoint inhibitor against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Thus, both viral-mediated oncolysis and immune-cell-mediated therapy were combined into a single viral vector. Safety and functionality of the armed OVs have been shown in novel preclinical models ranging from patient-derived organoids and tissue-engineered human in vitro 3D tumor models to complex humanized mouse models. Consequently, a novel and proprietary engineering platform vector based on HSV1 is available for the facilitated preclinical development of oncolytic virotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Funk
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadja Uhlig
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zsolt Ruzsics
- Department for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florentin Baur
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Peindl
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Nietzer
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Karina Epting
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gabriele Vacun
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gudrun Dandekar
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Catherine Botteron
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Werno
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Grunwald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne M. Bailer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Riedl A, Fischer J, Burgert HG, Ruzsics Z. Rescue of Recombinant Adenoviruses by CRISPR/Cas-Mediated in vivo Terminal Resolution. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:854690. [PMID: 35369433 PMCID: PMC8975557 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.854690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) vectors represent one of the most frequently used vehicles for gene transfer applications in vitro and in vivo. rAd genomes are constructed in Escherichia coli where their genomes can be maintained, propagated, and modified in form of circular plasmids or bacterial artificial chromosomes. Although the rescue of rAds from their circular plasmid or bacmid forms is well established, it works with relatively low primary efficiency, preventing this technology for library applications. To overcome this barrier, we tested a novel strategy for the reconstitution of rAds that utilizes the CRISPR/Cas-machinery to cleave the circular rAd genomes in close proximity to their inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) within the producer cells upon transfection. This CRISPR/Cas-mediated in vivo terminal resolution allowed efficient rescue of vectors derived from different human adenovirus (HAdV) species. By this means, it was not only possible to increase the efficiency of virus rescue by about 50-fold, but the presented methodology appeared also remarkably simpler and faster than traditional rAd reconstitution methods.
Collapse
|