Selection of perforin expressing CD4+ adenovirus-specific T-cells with artificial antigen presenting cells

Changes of Host Immunity Mediated by IFN-γ+ CD8+ T Cells in Children with Adenovirus Pneumonia in Different Severity of Illness

The host immunity of patients with adenovirus pneumonia in different severity of illness is unclear. This study compared the routine laboratory tests and the host immunity of human adenovirus (HAdV) patients with different severity of illness. A co-cultured cell model in vitro was established to verify the T cell response in vitro. Among 140 patients with confirmed HAdV of varying severity, the number of lymphocytes in the severe patients was significantly reduced to 1.91 × 10⁹/L compared with the healthy control (3.92 × 10⁹/L) and the mild patients (4.27 × 10⁹/L). The levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ in patients with adenovirus pneumonia were significantly elevated with the severity of the disease. Compared with the healthy control (20.82%) and the stable patients (33.96%), the percentage of CD8⁺ T cells that produced IFN-γ increased to 56.27% in the progressing patients. Adenovirus infection increased the percentage of CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cells that produce IFN-γ in the co-culture system. The hyperfunction of IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells might be related to the severity of adenovirus infection. The in vitro co-culture cell model could also provide a usable cellular model for subsequent experiments.

Antiadenovirus drug discovery: potential targets and evaluation methodologies

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are the cause of many acute infections, mostly in the respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts, as well as conjunctivitis. HAdV diseases in immunocompetent individuals are mostly self-limiting; however, in immunocompromised individuals, especially in pediatric units, HAdV infections are the cause of high morbidity and mortality. Despite the significant clinical impact, there are currently no approved antiviral therapies for HAdV infections. Here, we provide an overview of the different targets that could be considered for the design of specific drugs against HAdV, as well as the available in vitro and in vivo tools for the screening and evaluation of candidate molecules.

Linking form to function: Biophysical aspects of artificial antigen presenting cell design

Artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) are engineered platforms for T cell activation and expansion, synthesized by coupling T cell activating proteins to the surface of cell lines or biocompatible particles. They can serve both as model systems to study the basic aspects of T cell signaling and translationally as novel approaches for either active or adoptive immunotherapy. Historically, these reductionist systems have not been designed to mimic the temporally and spatially complex interactions observed during endogenous T cell-APC contact, which include receptor organization at both micro- and nanoscales and dynamic changes in cell and membrane morphologies. Here, we review how particle size and shape, as well as heterogenous distribution of T cell activating proteins on the particle surface, are critical aspects of aAPC design. In doing so, we demonstrate how insights derived from endogenous T cell activation can be applied to optimize aAPC, and in turn how aAPC platforms can be used to better understand endogenous T cell stimulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nanoscale membrane organisation and signalling.

Adenovirus infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are an important cause of infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, and they continue to provide clinical challenges pertaining to diagnostics and treatment. The growing number of HAdV types identified by genomic analysis, as well as the improved understanding of the sites of viral persistence and reactivation, requires continuous adaptions of diagnostic approaches to facilitate timely detection and monitoring of HAdV infections. In view of the clinical relevance of life-threatening HAdV diseases in the immunocompromised setting, there is an urgent need for highly effective treatment modalities lacking major side effects. The present review summarizes the recent progress in the understanding and management of HAdV infections.

Oncolytic Adenoviruses in Cancer Treatment

The therapeutic use of viruses against cancer has been revived during the last two decades. Oncolytic viruses replicate and spread inside tumors, amplifying their cytotoxicity and simultaneously reversing the tumor immune suppression. Among different viruses, recombinant adenoviruses designed to replicate selectively in tumor cells have been clinically tested by intratumoral or systemic administration. Limited efficacy has been associated to poor tumor targeting, intratumoral spread, and virocentric immune responses. A deeper understanding of these three barriers will be required to design more effective oncolytic adenoviruses that, alone or combined with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, may become tools for oncologists.

Management of adenovirus in children after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Adenovirus (ADV) can cause significant morbidity and mortality in children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with an incidence of up to 27% and notable associated morbidity and mortality. T-cell depleted grafts and severe lymphopenia are major risk factors for the development of adenovirus disease after HSCT. Current antiviral treatments are at best virostatic and may have significant side effects. Adoptive transfer of donor-derived virus-specific T cells has been shown to be an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of ADV infection after HSCT. Here we review progress in the field and present a pathway for the management of adenovirus in the posttransplant setting.

Diagnosis and treatment of adenovirus infection in immunocompromised patients

In immunocompromised patients, human adenovirus (HAdV) infections can cause life-threatening multiorgan disease. This review summarizes the incidence and risk factors of invasive human adenovirus infections in immunocompromised patients as well as the recently developed standards for diagnostic methods and strategies according to the predominant risk factors in adults and children. Recommendations for preemptive and therapeutic treatment strategies and the outcome in different risk groups are presented. Novel therapeutic approaches including CMX001, a new orally bioavailable lipid conjugate of cidofovir and the transfer of adenovirus-specific donor T cells in the context of allogeneic stem cell transplantation are discussed.

Nanoengineering approaches to the design of artificial antigen-presenting cells

Artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) have shown great initial promise for ex vivo activation of cytotoxic T cells. The development of aAPCs has focused mainly on the choice of proteins to use for surface presentation to T cells when conjugated to various spherical, microscale particles. We review here biomimetic nanoengineering approaches that have been applied to the development of aAPCs that move beyond initial concepts about aAPC development. This article also discusses key technologies that may be enabling for the development of nano- and micro-scale aAPCs with nanoscale features, and suggests several future directions for the field.