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Curry E, Muir G, Qu J, Kis Z, Hulley M, Brown A. Engineering an Escherichia coli based in vivo mRNA manufacturing platform. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1912-1926. [PMID: 38419526 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA is currently produced in standardized in vitro transcription systems. However, this one-size-fits-all approach has associated drawbacks in supply chain shortages, high reagent costs, complex product-related impurity profiles, and limited design options for molecule-specific optimization of product yield and quality. Herein, we describe for the first time development of an in vivo mRNA manufacturing platform, utilizing an Escherichia coli cell chassis. Coordinated mRNA, DNA, cell and media engineering, primarily focussed on disrupting interactions between synthetic mRNA molecules and host cell RNA degradation machinery, increased product yields >40-fold compared to standard "unengineered" E. coli expression systems. Mechanistic dissection of cell factory performance showed that product mRNA accumulation levels approached theoretical limits, accounting for ~30% of intracellular total RNA mass, and that this was achieved via host-cell's reallocating biosynthetic capacity away from endogenous RNA and cell biomass generation activities. We demonstrate that varying sized functional mRNA molecules can be produced in this system and subsequently purified. Accordingly, this study introduces a new mRNA production technology, expanding the solution space available for mRNA manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Curry
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - George Muir
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jixin Qu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Zoltán Kis
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Adam Brown
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Sanchez-Martinez ZV, Alpuche-Lazcano SP, Stuible M, Durocher Y. CHO cells for virus-like particle and subunit vaccine manufacturing. Vaccine 2024; 42:2530-2542. [PMID: 38503664 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, employed primarily for manufacturing monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant protein (r-protein) therapeutics, are emerging as a promising host for vaccine antigen production. This is exemplified by the recently approved CHO cell-derived subunit vaccines (SUV) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), as well as the enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Here, we summarize the design, production, and immunogenicity features of these vaccine and review the most recent progress of other CHO-derived vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical development. We also discuss the challenges associated with vaccine production in CHO cells, with a focus on ensuring viral clearance for eVLP products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zalma V Sanchez-Martinez
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Sergio P Alpuche-Lazcano
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Matthew Stuible
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Yves Durocher
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; PROTEO: The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering, Université du Québec à Montréal, 201 Avenue du Président Kennedy, Montréal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada.
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3
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Baghdassarian HM, Lewis NE. Resource allocation in mammalian systems. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108305. [PMID: 38215956 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Cells execute biological functions to support phenotypes such as growth, migration, and secretion. Complementarily, each function of a cell has resource costs that constrain phenotype. Resource allocation by a cell allows it to manage these costs and optimize their phenotypes. In fact, the management of resource constraints (e.g., nutrient availability, bioenergetic capacity, and macromolecular machinery production) shape activity and ultimately impact phenotype. In mammalian systems, quantification of resource allocation provides important insights into higher-order multicellular functions; it shapes intercellular interactions and relays environmental cues for tissues to coordinate individual cells to overcome resource constraints and achieve population-level behavior. Furthermore, these constraints, objectives, and phenotypes are context-dependent, with cells adapting their behavior according to their microenvironment, resulting in distinct steady-states. This review will highlight the biological insights gained from probing resource allocation in mammalian cells and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hratch M Baghdassarian
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Lu L, Ma D, Xi Z. Coexpression of TP53, BIM, and PTEN Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:792-808. [PMID: 38237562 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
For non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the ubiquitous occurrence of concurrent multiple genomic alterations poses challenges to single-gene therapy. To increase therapeutic efficacy, we used the branch-PCR method to develop a multigene nanovector, NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN, that carried three therapeutic gene expression cassettes for coexpression. NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN exhibited a uniform size of 104.8 ± 24.2 nm and high serum stability. In cell transfection tests, NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN could coexpress TP53, BIM, and PTEN in NCI-H1299 cells and induce cell apoptosis with a ratio of up to 94.9%. Furthermore, NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN also inhibited cell proliferation with a ratio of up to 42%. In a mouse model bearing an NCI-H1299 xenograft tumor, NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on the NCI-H1299 xenograft tumor than the other test vectors without any detectable side effects. These results exhibited the potential of NP-TP53-BIM-PTEN as an effective and safe multigene nanovector to enhance NSCLC therapy efficacy, which will provide a framework for genome therapy with multigene combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, National Engineering Research Center of Pesticide (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dejun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, National Engineering Research Center of Pesticide (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhen Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, National Engineering Research Center of Pesticide (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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Stone A, Youssef A, Rijal S, Zhang R, Tian XJ. Context-dependent redesign of robust synthetic gene circuits. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00003-9. [PMID: 38320912 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Cells provide dynamic platforms for executing exogenous genetic programs in synthetic biology, resulting in highly context-dependent circuit performance. Recent years have seen an increasing interest in understanding the intricacies of circuit-host relationships, their influence on the synthetic bioengineering workflow, and in devising strategies to alleviate undesired effects. We provide an overview of how emerging circuit-host interactions, such as growth feedback and resource competition, impact both deterministic and stochastic circuit behaviors. We also emphasize control strategies for mitigating these unwanted effects. This review summarizes the latest advances and the current state of host-aware and resource-aware design of synthetic gene circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Stone
- School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Abdelrahaman Youssef
- School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Sadikshya Rijal
- School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Rong Zhang
- School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Xiao-Jun Tian
- School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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Di Blasi R, Pisani M, Tedeschi F, Marbiah MM, Polizzi K, Furini S, Siciliano V, Ceroni F. Resource-aware construct design in mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3576. [PMID: 37328476 PMCID: PMC10275982 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Resource competition can be the cause of unintended coupling between co-expressed genetic constructs. Here we report the quantification of the resource load imposed by different mammalian genetic components and identify construct designs with increased performance and reduced resource footprint. We use these to generate improved synthetic circuits and optimise the co-expression of transfected cassettes, shedding light on how this can be useful for bioproduction and biotherapeutic applications. This work provides the scientific community with a framework to consider resource demand when designing mammalian constructs to achieve robust and optimised gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Di Blasi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Mara Pisani
- Synthetic and Systems Biology lab for Biomedicine, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, Italy
- Open University affiliated centre, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Fabiana Tedeschi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology lab for Biomedicine, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, Italy
- University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Masue M Marbiah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Karen Polizzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Simone Furini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering ″Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Velia Siciliano
- Synthetic and Systems Biology lab for Biomedicine, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Ceroni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK.
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, South Kensington Campus, London, UK.
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