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Bevers S, Kooijmans SAA, Van de Velde E, Evers MJW, Seghers S, Gitz-Francois JJJM, van Kronenburg NCH, Fens MHAM, Mastrobattista E, Hassler L, Sork H, Lehto T, Ahmed KE, El Andaloussi S, Fiedler K, Breckpot K, Maes M, Van Hoorick D, Bastogne T, Schiffelers RM, De Koker S. mRNA-LNP vaccines tuned for systemic immunization induce strong antitumor immunity by engaging splenic immune cells. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3078-3094. [PMID: 35821637 PMCID: PMC9273295 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines have recently proven to be highly effective against SARS-CoV-2. Key to their success is the lipid-based nanoparticle (LNP), which enables efficient mRNA expression and endows the vaccine with adjuvant properties that drive potent antibody responses. Effective cancer vaccines require long-lived, qualitative CD8 T cell responses instead of antibody responses. Systemic vaccination appears to be the most effective route, but necessitates adaptation of LNP composition to deliver mRNA to antigen presenting cells. Using a design-of-experiments methodology, we tailored mRNA-LNP compositions to achieve high magnitude tumor-specific CD8 T cell responses within a single round of optimization. Optimized LNP compositions resulted in enhanced mRNA uptake by multiple splenic immune cell populations. Type I interferon and phagocytes were found essential for the T cell response. Surprisingly, we also discovered a yet unidentified role of B cells in stimulating the vaccine-elicited CD8 T cell response. Optimized LNPs displayed a similar, spleen-centered biodistribution profile in non-human primates and did not trigger histopathological changes in liver and spleen, warranting their further assessment in clinical studies. Taken together, our study clarifies the relationship between nanoparticle composition and their T cell stimulatory capacity and provides novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of effective mRNA-LNP based antitumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Bevers
- eTheRNA Immunotherapies, 2845 Niel, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy (LMCT), Free University of Brussels, 1090 Jette, Belgium
| | - Sander A A Kooijmans
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martijn J W Evers
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Nicky C H van Kronenburg
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel H A M Fens
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Helena Sork
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Taavi Lehto
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinksa Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kariem E Ahmed
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinksa Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Samir El Andaloussi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinksa Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy (LMCT), Free University of Brussels, 1090 Jette, Belgium
| | | | | | - Thierry Bastogne
- CYBERnano, 54000 Nancy, France; CRAN, Université de Lorraine, CNRS, INRIA BIGS, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Van der Jeught K, De Koker S, Bialkowski L, Heirman C, Tjok Joe P, Perche F, Maenhout S, Bevers S, Broos K, Deswarte K, Malard V, Hammad H, Baril P, Benvegnu T, Jaffrès PA, Kooijmans SAA, Schiffelers R, Lienenklaus S, Midoux P, Pichon C, Breckpot K, Thielemans K. Dendritic Cell Targeting mRNA Lipopolyplexes Combine Strong Antitumor T-Cell Immunity with Improved Inflammatory Safety. ACS Nano 2018; 12:9815-9829. [PMID: 30256609 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b00966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In vitro transcribed mRNA constitutes a versatile platform to encode antigens and to evoke CD8 T-cell responses. Systemic delivery of mRNA packaged into cationic liposomes (lipoplexes) has proven particularly powerful in achieving effective antitumor immunity in animal models. Yet, T-cell responses to mRNA lipoplexes critically depend on the induction of type I interferons (IFN), potent pro-inflammatory cytokines, which inflict dose-limiting toxicities. Here, we explored an advanced hybrid lipid polymer shell mRNA nanoparticle (lipopolyplex) endowed with a trimannose sugar tree as an alternative delivery vehicle for systemic mRNA vaccination. Like mRNA lipoplexes, mRNA lipopolyplexes were extremely effective in conferring antitumor T-cell immunity upon systemic administration. Conversely to mRNA lipoplexes, mRNA lipopolyplexes did not rely on type I IFN for effective T-cell immunity. This differential mode of action of mRNA lipopolyplexes enabled the incorporation of N1 methyl pseudouridine nucleoside modified mRNA to reduce inflammatory responses without hampering T-cell immunity. This feature was attributed to mRNA lipopolyplexes, as the incorporation of thus modified mRNA into lipoplexes resulted in strongly weakened T-cell immunity. Taken together, we have identified lipopolyplexes containing N1 methyl pseudouridine nucleoside modified mRNA as potent yet low-inflammatory alternatives to the mRNA lipoplexes currently explored in early phase clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Van der Jeught
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | | | - Lukasz Bialkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | - Carlo Heirman
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | - Patrick Tjok Joe
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | - Federico Perche
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm , Orléans 45071 , France
| | | | - Sanne Bevers
- eTheRNA Immunotherapies NV , Niel 2845 , Belgium
| | - Katrijn Broos
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | - Kim Deswarte
- VIB Inflammation Research Center , UGent , Ghent 9052 , Belgium
| | - Virginie Malard
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm , Orléans 45071 , France
| | - Hamida Hammad
- VIB Inflammation Research Center , UGent , Ghent 9052 , Belgium
| | - Patrick Baril
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm , Orléans 45071 , France
| | - Thierry Benvegnu
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS UMR6226 , Rennes 35708 , France
| | - Paul-Alain Jaffrès
- CEMA, CNRS UMR 6521, SFR148 ScInBioS , Université de Brest , Brest 29238 , France
| | - Sander A A Kooijmans
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteit Utrecht , Utrecht 3584 , Netherlands
| | - Raymond Schiffelers
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteit Utrecht , Utrecht 3584 , Netherlands
| | | | - Patrick Midoux
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm , Orléans 45071 , France
| | - Chantal Pichon
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, University and Inserm , Orléans 45071 , France
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
| | - Kris Thielemans
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Brussels 1090 , Belgium
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Bialkowski L, Van der Jeught K, Bevers S, Tjok Joe P, Renmans D, Heirman C, Aerts JL, Thielemans K. Immune checkpoint blockade combined with IL-6 and TGF-β inhibition improves the therapeutic outcome of mRNA-based immunotherapy. Int J Cancer 2018; 143:686-698. [PMID: 29464699 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Improved understanding of cancer immunology has provided insight into the phenomenon of frequent tumor recurrence after initially successful immunotherapy. A delicate balance exists between the capacity of the immune system to control tumor growth and various resistance mechanisms that arise to avoid or even counteract the host's immune system. These resistance mechanisms include but are not limited to (i) adaptive expression of inhibitory checkpoint molecules in response to the proinflammatory environment and (ii) amplification of cancer stem cells, a small fraction of tumor cells possessing the capacity for self-renewal and mediating treatment resistance and formation of metastases after long periods of clinical remission. Several individual therapeutic agents have so far been developed to revert T-cell exhaustion or disrupt the cross-talk between cancer stem cells and the tumor-promoting microenvironment. Here, we demonstrate that a three-arm combination therapy-consisting of an mRNA-based vaccine to induce antigen-specific T-cell responses, monoclonal antibodies blocking inhibitory checkpoint molecules (PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3), and antibodies targeting IL-6 and TGF-β-improves the therapeutic outcome in subcutaneous TC-1 tumors and significantly prolongs survival of treated mice. Our findings point to a need for a rational development of multidimensional anticancer therapies, aiming at the induction of tumor-specific immunity and simultaneously targeting multiple resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Bialkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Kevin Van der Jeught
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Sanne Bevers
- eTheRNA Immunotherapies, Galileilaan 19, Niel, 2845, Belgium
| | - Patrick Tjok Joe
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Dries Renmans
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Carlo Heirman
- eTheRNA Immunotherapies, Galileilaan 19, Niel, 2845, Belgium
| | - Joeri L Aerts
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Kris Thielemans
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103E, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.,eTheRNA Immunotherapies, Galileilaan 19, Niel, 2845, Belgium
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Le Blon D, Hoornaert C, Detrez JR, Bevers S, Daans J, Goossens H, De Vos WH, Berneman Z, Ponsaerts P. Immune remodelling of stromal cell grafts in the central nervous system: therapeutic inflammation or (harmless) side-effect? J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2016; 11:2846-2852. [PMID: 27320821 DOI: 10.1002/term.2188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, several cell types with fibroblast-like morphology, including mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, but also other adult, embryonic and extra-embryonic fibroblast-like cells, have been brought forward in the search for cellular therapies to treat severe brain injuries and/or diseases. Although current views in regenerative medicine are highly focused on the immune modulating and regenerative properties of stromal cell transplantation in vivo, many open questions remain regarding their true mode of action. In this perspective, this study integrates insights gathered over the past 10 years to formulate a unifying model of the cellular events that accompany fibroblast-like cell grafting in the rodent brain. Cellular interactions are discussed step-by-step, starting from the day of implantation up to 10 days after transplantation. During the short period that precedes stable settlement of autologous/syngeneic stromal cell grafts, there is a complex interplay between hypoxia-mediated cell death of grafted cells, neutrophil invasion, microglia and macrophage recruitment, astrocyte activation and neo-angiogenesis within the stromal cell graft site. Consequently, it is speculated that regenerative processes following cell therapeutic intervention in the CNS are not only modulated by soluble factors secreted by grafted stromal cells (bystander hypothesis), but also by in vivo inflammatory processes following stromal cell grafting. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Le Blon
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Chloé Hoornaert
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan R Detrez
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Cell Systems and Cellular Imaging, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sanne Bevers
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jasmijn Daans
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herman Goossens
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Winnok H De Vos
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Cell Systems and Cellular Imaging, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zwi Berneman
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Ponsaerts
- Laboratory of Experimental Haematology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Salian-Mehta S, Xu M, Knox AJ, Plummer L, Slavov D, Taylor M, Bevers S, Hodges RS, Crowley WF, Wierman ME. Functional consequences of AXL sequence variants in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014; 99:1452-60. [PMID: 24476074 PMCID: PMC3973777 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2013-3426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Prior studies showed that Axl /Tyro3 null mice have delayed first estrus and abnormal cyclicity due to developmental defects in GnRH neuron migration and survival. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to test whether the absence of Axl would alter reproductive function in mice and that mutations in AXL are present in patients with Kallmann syndrome (KS) or normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH). DESIGN AND SETTING The sexual maturation of Axl null mice was examined. The coding region of AXL was sequenced in 104 unrelated, carefully phenotyped KS or nIHH subjects. Frequency of mutations was compared with other causes of GnRH deficiency. Functional assays were performed on the detected mutations. RESULTS Axl null mice demonstrated delay in first estrus and the interval between vaginal opening and first estrus. Three missense AXL mutations (p.L50F, p.S202C, and p.Q361P) and one intronic variant 6 bp upstream from the start of exon 5 (c.586-6 C>T) were identified in two KS and 2 two nIHH subjects. Comparison of the frequencies of AXL mutations with other putative causes of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism confirmed they are rare variants. Testing of the c.586-6 C>T mutation revealed no abnormal splicing. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of the p.L50F, p.S202C, and p.Q361P mutations showed no altered Gas6 ligand binding. In contrast, GT1-7 GnRH neuronal cells expressing p.S202C or p.Q361P demonstrated defective ligand dependent receptor processing and importantly aberrant neuronal migration. In addition, the p.Q361P showed defective ligand independent chemotaxis. CONCLUSIONS Functional consequences of AXL sequence variants in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism support the importance of AXL and the Tyro3, Axl, Mer (TAM) family in reproductive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Salian-Mehta
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes (S.S.-M., M.X., A.J.K., M.E.W.), Division of Cardiology (D.S., M.T.), and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (S.B., R.S.H.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Veterans Affairs Research Service (M.E.W.), Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80220; and Harvard Reproductive Endocrine Science Center and the Reproductive Endocrine Unit (L.P., W.F.C.), Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
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Mohammad T, Amato RJ, Hernandez-McClain J, Messman R, Morgenstern D, Low P, Bevers S. Phase I trial of EC90 (keyhole-limpet hemocyanin fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate) with GPI-0100 followed by EC 17 (folate- fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate) in combination with interferon-alpha (ifnα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). J Clin Oncol 2008. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2008.26.15_suppl.3081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Abstract
Three modified hammerhead ribozyme/substrate complexes have been prepared in which individual uridine O2-carbonyls have been eliminated. The modified complexes were chemically synthesized with the substitution of a single 2-pyridone (2P) base analogue for residues U4, U7, and U16.1. Steady-state kinetic analyses indicate that the cleavage efficiencies for the U7 and U16.1 complexes were not significantly reduced relative to the native complex as measured by kcat/KM. The cleavage efficiency for the 2P4 complex, with the analogue present within the uridine loop, was reduced by greater than 2 orders of magnitude. This significant reduction in catalytic efficiency was due primarily to a decrease in kcat. The pH vs cleavage rate profile suggests that the O2-carbonyl of the U4 residue of the hammerhead complex is critical for transition state stabilization and efficient cleavage activity. The results of a Mg2+ rescue assay do not implicate the O2-carbonyl of U4 in an interaction with a divalent metal ion. In addition, the results of a ribozyme folding assay suggest that the presence of the 2P4 within the uridine loop does not alter the folding pathway (relative to the native sequence) both in the absence and in the presence of Mg2+. The O2-carbonyl of U4 appears oriented toward the interior of the catalytic pocket where it may be involved in a critical hydrogen bonding interaction necessary for transition state stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bevers
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
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Abstract
Five modified hammerhead ribozyme/substrate complexes have been prepared in which individual adenosine N3-nitrogens have been excised and replaced with carbon. The modified complexes were chemically synthesized with the substitution of a single 3-deazzaadenosine (c3A) base analogue for residues A6, A9, A13, A14, or A15.1. Steady-state kinetic analyses indicate that the cleavage efficiencies, as measured by kcat/K(M), for the c3A6, c3A9, and c3A14 complexes were only marginally reduced (< or = 5-fold) relative to the native complex. By comparison, the cleavage efficiencies for the c3A13 and c315.1 complexes were reduced by 9-fold and 55-fold, respectively. these reductions in cleavage efficiency are primarily a result of lower kcat values. Profiles of pH and cleavage rate suggest that the chemical cleavage step is the rate-limiting reaction for these complexes. These results suggest that the N3-nitrogen of the A13 residue and particularly the A15.1 residue in the hammerhead ribozyme/substrate complex are critical for transition state stabilization and efficient cleavage activity. We have additionally compared the locations of these critical functional groups, as well as those identified from other studies, with recent crystallographic analyses. In some cases, the critical functional groups are clustered around proposed metal binding sites and may reflect functional groups critical for binding the metal cofactor. In other cases, clusters of functional groups may form a network of hydrogen bonds necessary for transition state stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bevers
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167, USA
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