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Kumar R, Srivastava V. Application of anti-fungal vaccines as a tool against emerging anti-fungal resistance. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1241539. [PMID: 37746132 PMCID: PMC10512234 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1241539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
After viruses and bacteria, fungal infections remain a serious threat to the survival and well-being of society. The continuous emergence of resistance against commonly used anti-fungal drugs is a serious concern. The eukaryotic nature of fungal cells makes the identification of novel anti-fungal agents slow and difficult. Increasing global temperature and a humid environment conducive to fungal growth may lead to a fungal endemic or a pandemic. The continuous increase in the population of immunocompromised individuals and falling immunity forced pharmaceutical companies to look for alternative strategies for better managing the global fungal burden. Prevention of infectious diseases by vaccines can be the right choice. Recent success and safe application of mRNA-based vaccines can play a crucial role in our quest to overcome anti-fungal resistance. Expressing fungal cell surface proteins in human subjects using mRNA technology may be sufficient to raise immune response to protect against future fungal infection. The success of mRNA-based anti-fungal vaccines will heavily depend on the identification of fungal surface proteins which are highly immunogenic and have no or least side effects in human subjects. The present review discusses why it is essential to look for anti-fungal vaccines and how vaccines, in general, and mRNA-based vaccines, in particular, can be the right choice in tackling the problem of rising anti-fungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Collage of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Vartika Srivastava
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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2
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Tischer-Zimmermann S, Salzer E, Bitencourt T, Frank N, Hoffmann-Freimüller C, Stemberger J, Maecker-Kolhoff B, Blasczyk R, Witt V, Fritsch G, Paster W, Lion T, Eiz-Vesper B, Geyeregger R. Rapid and sustained T cell-based immunotherapy against invasive fungal disease via a combined two step procedure. Front Immunol 2023; 14:988947. [PMID: 37090716 PMCID: PMC10114046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.988947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Aspergillus fumigatus (Asp) infections constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In the context of insufficient host immunity, antifungal drugs show only limited efficacy. Faster and increased T-cell reconstitution correlated with a favorable outcome and a cell-based therapy approach strongly indicated successful clearance of fungal infections. Nevertheless, complex and cost- or time-intensive protocols hampered their implementation into clinical application. Methods To facilitate the clinical-scale manufacturing process of Aspergillus fumigatus-specific T cells (ATCs) and to enable immediate (within 24 hours) and sustained (12 days later) treatment of patients with invasive aspergillosis (IA), we adapted and combined two complementary good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant approaches, i) the direct magnetic enrichment of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secreting ATCs using the small-scale Cytokine Secretion Assay (CSA) and ii) a short-term in vitro T-cell culture expansion (STE), respectively. We further compared stimulation with two standardized and commercially available products: Asp-lysate and a pool of overlapping peptides derived from different Asp-proteins (PepMix). Results For the fast CSA-based approach we detected IFN-γ+ ATCs after Asp-lysate- as well as PepMix-stimulation but with a significantly higher enrichment efficiency for stimulation with the Asp-lysate when compared to the PepMix. In contrast, the STE approach resulted in comparably high ATC expansion rates by using Asp-lysate or PepMix. Independent of the stimulus, predominantly CD4+ helper T cells with a central-memory phenotype were expanded while CD8+ T cells mainly showed an effector-memory phenotype. ATCs were highly functional and cytotoxic as determined by secretion of granzyme-B and IFN-γ. Discussion For patients with IA, the immediate adoptive transfer of IFN-γ+ ATCs followed by the administration of short-term in vitro expanded ATCs from the same donor, might be a promising therapeutic option to improve the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Tischer-Zimmermann
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Salzer
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children’s Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Nelli Frank
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Julia Stemberger
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Britta Maecker-Kolhoff
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Volker Witt
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Fritsch
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Paster
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Lion
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - René Geyeregger
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Wurster S, Watowich SS, Kontoyiannis DP. Checkpoint inhibitors as immunotherapy for fungal infections: Promises, challenges, and unanswered questions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1018202. [PMID: 36389687 PMCID: PMC9640966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic fungal infections have high mortality in patients with severe immune dysfunction. Growing evidence suggests that the immune environment of invasive fungal infections and cancers share common features of immune cell exhaustion through activation of immune checkpoint pathways. This observation gave rise to several preclinical studies and clinical case reports describing blockade of the Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 immune checkpoint pathways as an adjunct immune enhancement strategy to treat opportunistic fungal infections. The first part of this review summarizes the emerging evidence for contributions of checkpoint pathways to the immunopathology of fungal sepsis, opportunistic mold infections, and dimorphic fungal infections. We then review the potential merits of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as an antifungal immunotherapy, including the incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms involved in both immuno-protective effects and toxicities. In the second part of this review, we discuss the limitations of the current evidence and the many unknowns about ICIs as an antifungal immune enhancement strategy. Based on these gaps of knowledge and lessons learned from cancer immunology studies, we outline a research agenda to determine a "sweet spot" for ICIs in medical mycology. We specifically discuss the importance of more nuanced animal models, the need to study ICI-based combination therapy, potential ICI resistance, the role of the immune microenvironment, and the impact of ICIs given as part of oncological therapies on the natural immunity to various pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wurster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephanie S. Watowich
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Intracellular cytokine expression in invasive fungal sinusitis and its impact on patient outcome. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2022; 136:861-865. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022215122000561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundCell-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defence against fungal pathogens, regulated by differentiation of lymphocytes towards T-helper 1 or 2 cells. This study reports intracellular cytokine variation in terms of invasive fungal sinusitis type and outcome.MethodsThe mononuclear leukocytes of 15 patients with invasive fungal sinusitis (mucormycosis in 8, aspergillus in 7) were stained with antibodies against intracellular cytokines, after fungal antigen stimulation and culture, and immunophenotyped. Patients were followed up for six months, with clinical course categorised as improvement, worsening or death.ResultsThe mean percentages of mononuclear cells producing interleukins 4, 5, 10 and 12, and interferon-γ, in the mucormycosis group were 0.575, 0.284, 8.661, 4.460 and 1.134, respectively, while percentages in the aspergillosis group were 0.233, 0.492, 4.196, 4.466 and 1.533. Cells producing interleukin 4 and 10 were higher in the mucormycosis group, while those producing interleukin-12 and interferon-γ were lower. Cells producing interleukins 4 and 12 were higher in patients with a poor outcome (p-values of 0.0662 and 0.0373, respectively), while those producing interferon-γ were lower (p = 0.0864).ConclusionAdaptive cell-mediated immunity is expressed differently in two categories of invasive fungal sinusitis, and the cytokine expression pattern is related to prognosis.
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Karavalakis G, Yannaki E, Papadopoulou A. Reinforcing the Immunocompromised Host Defense against Fungi: Progress beyond the Current State of the Art. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060451. [PMID: 34204025 PMCID: PMC8228486 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of a variety of antifungal drugs, opportunistic fungal infections still remain life-threatening for immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation. Suboptimal efficacy, toxicity, development of resistant variants and recurrent episodes are limitations associated with current antifungal drug therapy. Adjunctive immunotherapies reinforcing the host defense against fungi and aiding in clearance of opportunistic pathogens are continuously gaining ground in this battle. Here, we review alternative approaches for the management of fungal infections going beyond the state of the art and placing an emphasis on fungus-specific T cell immunotherapy. Harnessing the power of T cells in the form of adoptive immunotherapy represents the strenuous protagonist of the current immunotherapeutic approaches towards combating invasive fungal infections. The progress that has been made over the last years in this field and remaining challenges as well, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Karavalakis
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.K.); (E.Y.)
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.K.); (E.Y.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, “George Papanikolaou” Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.K.); (E.Y.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2313-307-693; Fax: +30-2313-307-521
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6
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Abstract
Invasive fungal diseases continue to cause substantial mortality in the enlarging immunocompromised population. It is fortunate that the field has moved past amphotericin B deoxycholate as the only available antifungal drug but despite new classes of antifungal agents both primary and secondary drug resistance in molds and yeasts abound. From the rise of multiple-drug-resistant Candida auris to the agrochemical selection of environmental azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus, it is and will be critical to understand antifungal drug resistance and both prevent and treat it with new strategies and agents.
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Gottlieb DJ, Clancy LE, Withers B, McGuire HM, Luciani F, Singh M, Hughes B, Gloss B, Kliman D, Ma CKK, Panicker S, Bishop D, Dubosq MC, Li Z, Avdic S, Micklethwaite K, Blyth E. Prophylactic antigen-specific T-cells targeting seven viral and fungal pathogens after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1249. [PMID: 33747509 PMCID: PMC7960021 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Adoptive immunotherapy using donor-derived antigen-specific T-cells can prevent and treat infection after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Methods We treated 11 patients with a prophylactic infusion of 2 × 107 cells per square metre donor-derived T-cells targeting seven infections (six viral and one fungal) following HSCT. Targeted pathogens were cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus, varicella zoster virus, influenza, BK virus (BKV) and Aspergillus fumigatus. Results T-cell products were successfully generated in all patients with 10 products responsive to 6 or 7 infections. T-cell infusions were associated with increases in antigen-experienced activated CD8+ T-cells by day 30. CMV, EBV and BKV reactivation occurred in the majority of patients and was well controlled except where glucocorticoids were administered soon after T-cell infusion. Three patients in that circumstance developed CMV tissue infection. No patient required treatment for invasive fungal infection. The most common CMV and EBV TCR clonotypes in the infusion product became the most common clonotypes seen at day 30 post-T-cell infusion. Donors and their recipients were recruited to the study prior to transplant. Grade III/IV graft-versus-host disease developed in four patients. At a median follow-up of 390 days post-transplant, six patients had died, 5 of relapse, and 1 of multi-organ failure. Infection did not contribute to death in any patient. Conclusion Rapid reconstitution of immunity to a broad range of viral and fungal infections can be achieved using a multi-pathogen-specific T-cell product. The development of GVHD after T-cell infusion suggests that infection-specific T-cell therapy after allogeneic stem cell transplant should be combined with other strategies to reduce graft-versus-host disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jonathan Gottlieb
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Leighton Edward Clancy
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory NSW Health Pathology ICPMR Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Barbara Withers
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Helen Marie McGuire
- Ramaciotti Facility for Human Systems Biology The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Discipline of Pathology Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Camperdown NSW Australia
| | - Fabio Luciani
- Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Mandeep Singh
- The Garvan Institute of Medical Research Darlinghurst NSW Australia.,Faculty of Medicine St. Vincent's Clinical School UNSW Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Brendan Hughes
- Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Brian Gloss
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - David Kliman
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Chun Kei Kris Ma
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Shyam Panicker
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia
| | - David Bishop
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Ming-Celine Dubosq
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Ziduo Li
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Selmir Avdic
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia
| | - Kenneth Micklethwaite
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia.,Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory NSW Health Pathology ICPMR Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Emily Blyth
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia.,Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program Westmead Hospital Sydney NSW Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney Westmead NSW Australia.,Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory NSW Health Pathology ICPMR Sydney NSW Australia
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8
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Natural Killer Cell Line NK-92-Mediated Damage of Medically Important Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020144. [PMID: 33671240 PMCID: PMC7922546 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal disease (IFD) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with high morbidity and mortality. As the antifungal host response determines risk and outcome of IFD, there is growing interest in adoptive immunotherapy using T cells or natural killer (NK) cells. Although the NK-92 cell line has been tested as anticancer therapy in clinical trials, data on the antifungal activity of NK-92 cells are lacking. Here, we show that the NK-92 cell line exhibits considerable fungal damage on all medically important fungi tested, such as different species of Aspergillus, Candida, mucormycetes, and Fusarium. The extent of fungal damage differs across various species of mucormycetes and Fusarium, whereas it is comparable across different species of Aspergillus and Candida. Interferon (IFN)-γ levels in the supernatant were lower when NK-92 cells are co-incubated with Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, or Rhizopus arrhizus compared to the levels when NK-92 cells are incubated alone. Different to primary human NK cells, no increase of perforin levels in the supernatant was observed when the fungi were added to NK-92 cells. Our in vitro data demonstrated that the NK-92 cell line could be a feasible tool for antifungal immunotherapy, but data of animal models are warranted prior to clinical trials.
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From bench to bedside - translational approaches in anti-fungal immunology. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:153-159. [PMID: 33190074 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections mainly occur in patients suffering from impaired immunity. Their associated mortality is high despite antifungal treatment. Thus, several efforts have been made to translate our knowledge on protective antifungal immunity into clinical application. Since the first attempts with transfusion of neutrophilic granulocytes, these approaches have become more refined and include administration of cytokines to booster antifungal immune responses or selective stimulation of pattern recognition receptors. Recently, novel tools that have proven effective in the treatment of cancer have offered new options for enhancing antifungal immunity. These approaches include checkpoint inhibitors as well as T-cell based therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cells.
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Jiang W, Withers B, Sutrave G, Clancy LE, Yong MI, Blyth E. Pathogen-Specific T Cells Beyond CMV, EBV and Adenovirus. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2020; 14:247-260. [PMID: 31228095 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-019-00521-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Infectious diseases contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT), particularly in the era of highly immunosuppressive transplant regimens and alternate donor transplants. Delayed cellular immune recovery is a major mechanism for the increased risk in these patients. Adoptive cell therapy with ex vivo manipulated pathogen-specific T cells (PSTs) is increasingly taking its place as a treatment strategy using donor-derived or third party-banked cells. RECENT FINDINGS The majority of clinical trial data in the form of early-phase studies has been in the prophylaxis or treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and adenovirus (AdV). Advancements in methods to select and enrich PSTs offer the opportunity to target the less common viral pathogens as well as fungi with this technology. Early clinical studies of PSTs targeting polyomaviruses (BK virus and JC virus), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6), varicella zoster virus (VZV) and Aspergillus spp. have shown promising results in small numbers of patients. Other potential targets include herpes simplex virus (HSV), respiratory viruses and other invasive fungal species. In this review, we describe the burden of disease of this wider spectrum of pathogens, the progress in the development of manufacturing capability, early clinical results and the opportunities and challenges for implementation in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.,Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Barbara Withers
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.,Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Gaurav Sutrave
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.,Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,BMT and Cell Therapies Program, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leighton E Clancy
- Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory, Westmead, Australia
| | - Michelle I Yong
- National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily Blyth
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia. .,Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. .,St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia. .,BMT and Cell Therapies Program, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
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11
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Keller MD, Bollard CM. Virus-specific T-cell therapies for patients with primary immune deficiency. Blood 2020; 135:620-628. [PMID: 31942610 PMCID: PMC7046606 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infections are common and are potentially life-threatening in patients with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency disorders. Because T-cell immunity contributes to the control of many viral pathogens, adoptive immunotherapy with virus-specific T cells (VSTs) has been a logical and effective way of combating severe viral disease in immunocompromised patients in multiple phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Common viral targets include cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenovirus, though recent published studies have successfully targeted additional pathogens, including HHV6, BK virus, and JC virus. Though most studies have used VSTs derived from allogenic stem cell donors, the use of banked VSTs derived from partially HLA-matched donors has shown efficacy in multicenter settings. Hence, this approach could shorten the time for patients to receive VST therapy thus improving accessibility. In this review, we discuss the usage of VSTs for patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders in clinical trials, as well as future potential targets and methods to broaden the applicability of virus-directed T-cell immunotherapy for this vulnerable patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Keller
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research and
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
- GW Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research and
- GW Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC; and
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
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12
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Papadopoulou A, Alvanou M, Koukoulias K, Athanasiou E, Lazaridou A, Savvopoulos N, Kaloyannidis P, Markantonatou AM, Vyzantiadis TA, Yiangou M, Anagnostopoulos A, Yannaki E. Clinical-scale production of Aspergillus-specific T cells for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in the immunocompromised host. Bone Marrow Transplant 2019; 54:1963-1972. [DOI: 10.1038/s41409-019-0501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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13
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Lauruschkat CD, Einsele H, Loeffler J. Immunomodulation as a Therapy for Aspergillus Infection: Current Status and Future Perspectives. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4040137. [PMID: 30558125 PMCID: PMC6308942 DOI: 10.3390/jof4040137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most serious life-threatening infectious complication of intensive remission induction chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with a variety of hematological malignancies. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most commonly isolated species from cases of IA. Despite the various improvements that have been made with preventative strategies and the development of antifungal drugs, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches that focus on strategies to boost the host’s immune response, since immunological recovery is recognized as being the major determinant of the outcome of IA. Here, we aim to summarize current knowledge about a broad variety of immunotherapeutic approaches against IA, including therapies based on the transfer of distinct immune cell populations, and the administration of cytokines and antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D Lauruschkat
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, WÜ4i, Building C11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, WÜ4i, Building C11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, WÜ4i, Building C11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
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14
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Sam QH, Yew WS, Seneviratne CJ, Chang MW, Chai LYA. Immunomodulation as Therapy for Fungal Infection: Are We Closer? Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1612. [PMID: 30090091 PMCID: PMC6068232 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal disease (IFD) causes significant morbidity in immunocompromised patients due to their weakened immune system. Immunomodulatory therapy, in synergy with existing antifungal therapy, is an attractive option to enhance their immune system and aid clearance of these opportunistic pathogens. From a scientific and clinical perspective, we explore the immunotherapeutic options to augment standard antifungal drugs for patients with an IFD. We discuss the range of immunomodulatory therapies being considered in IFD - from cytokines, including G-CSF, GM-CSF, M-CSF, IFN-γ, and cytokine agonists, to cellular therapies, consisting of granulocyte transfusion, adoptive T-cell, CAR T-cell, natural killer cell therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. Adjunct pharmaceutical agents which augment the immunity are also being considered. Lastly, we explore the likelihood of the use of probiotics and manipulation of the microbiome/mycobiome to enhance IFD treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Hui Sam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster – National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wen Shan Yew
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Matthew Wook Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Louis Yi Ann Chai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster – National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Castillo P, Wright KE, Kontoyiannis DP, Walsh T, Patel S, Chorvinsky E, Bose S, Hazrat Y, Omer B, Albert N, Leen AM, Rooney CM, Bollard CM, Cruz CRY. A New Method for Reactivating and Expanding T Cells Specific for Rhizopus oryzae. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2018; 9:305-312. [PMID: 30038934 PMCID: PMC6054701 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mucormycosis is responsible for an increasing proportion of deaths after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Because this disease is associated with severe immunodeficiency and has shown resistance to even the newest antifungal agents, we determined the feasibility of reactivating and expanding Rhizopus oryzae-specific T cells for use as adoptive immunotherapy in transplant recipients. R. oryzae extract-pulsed monocytes were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors, in the presence of different cytokine combinations. The generated R. oryzae-specific T cell products were phenotyped after the third stimulation and further characterized by the use of antibodies that block class I/II molecules, as well as pattern recognition receptors. Despite the very low frequency of R. oryzae-specific T cells of healthy donors, we found that stimulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-7 cytokine combination could expand these rare cells. The expanded populations included 17%-83% CD4+ T cells that were specific for R. oryzae antigens. Besides interferon-γ (IFN-γ), these cells secreted IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and recognized fungal antigens presented by HLA-II molecules rather than through nonspecific signaling. The method described herein is robust and reproducible, and could be used to generate adequate quantities of activated R. oryzae-specific T cells for clinical testing of safety and antifungal efficacy in patients with mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Castillo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kaylor E Wright
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Thomas Walsh
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shabnum Patel
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Elizabeth Chorvinsky
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Swaroop Bose
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Yasmin Hazrat
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bilal Omer
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nathaniel Albert
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ann M Leen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cliona M Rooney
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Conrad Russell Y Cruz
- Sheikh Zayed Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
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16
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. As more potent broad-spectrum antifungal agents are used in prophylaxis, drug resistance and less common fungal species have increased in frequency. Here we review current treatments available for IFD and examine the potential for adoptive T-cell treatment to enhance current therapeutic choices in IFD. RECENT FINDINGS There is growing evidence supporting the role of T cells as well as phagocytes in antifungal immunity. T cells recognizing specific antigens expressed on fungal morphotypes have been identified and the role of T-cell transfer has been explored in animal models. The clinical efficacy of adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T cells for prophylaxis and treatment of viral infections post-HSCT has raised interest in developing good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant methods for manufacturing and testing fungus-specific T cells after HSCT. SUMMARY As the outcomes of IFD post-HSCT are poor, reconstitution of antifungal immunity offers a way to correct the underlying deficiency that has caused the infection rather than simply pharmacologically suppress fungal growth. The clinical development of fungus specific T cells is in its early stages and clinical trials are needed in order to evaluate safety and efficacy.
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17
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Segal BH. Specific Adoptive T-Cell Therapy for Viral and Fungal Infections. MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIONS IN THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HOST 2018. [PMCID: PMC7121368 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77674-3_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in anti-infective agents, viral and fungal infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) continue to cause life-threatening complications that limit the success of HSCT. Early adoptive T-cell immunotherapy studies showed that administration of allogeneic virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (vCTL) can prevent and control viral infections and reconstitute antiviral immunity to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Advances in immunobiology, in vitro culture technology, and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) have provided opportunities for advancing adoptive cell therapy for viral infections: (1) T cells have been expanded targeting multiple pathogens; (2) vCTL production no longer requires viral infection or viral vector transduction of antigen-presenting cells (APCs); (3) the source of lymphocytes is no longer restricted to donors who are immune to the pathogens; (4) naive T cells have been redirected with chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CARTs) or armed with bispecific antibody-armed T cells (BATs) to mediate vCTL activity; (5) these technologies could be combined to targeted multiple viral or fungal pathogens; and (6) pathogen-specific T-cell products manufactured from third parties and banked for “off-the-shelf” use post-HSCT may soon become a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahm H. Segal
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York USA
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18
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Ibrahim AS, Voelz K. The mucormycete-host interface. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 40:40-45. [PMID: 29107938 PMCID: PMC5733727 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a fungal infection with fulminant angioinvasion leading to high morbidity and mortality in susceptible individuals. The major predisposing conditions are uncontrolled diabetes, neutropenia, malignancies, receipt of a transplant and traumatic injury [1]. Over the past decade, mucormycosis has become an emerging fungal infection due to the increase in patient groups presenting with these pre-disposing conditions and our medical advances in diagnosing the infection [2-4]. Yet, we currently lack clinical interventions to treat mucormycosis effectively. This in turn is due to a lack of understanding of mucormycosis pathogenesis. Here, we discuss our current understanding of selected aspects of interactions at the mucormycete-host interface. We will highlight open questions that might guide future research directions for investigations into the pathogenesis of mucormycosis and potential innovative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and David Geffen School of Medicine, Harbor - University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kerstin Voelz
- School of Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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19
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Armstrong-James D, Brown GD, Netea MG, Zelante T, Gresnigt MS, van de Veerdonk FL, Levitz SM. Immunotherapeutic approaches to treatment of fungal diseases. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017; 17:e393-e402. [PMID: 28774700 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fungal infections cause morbidity worldwide and are associated with an unacceptably high mortality despite the availability of antifungal drugs. The incidence of mycoses is rising because of the HIV pandemic and because immunomodulatory drugs are increasingly used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer. New classes of antifungal drugs have only been partly successful in improving the prognosis for patients with fungal infection. Adjunctive host-directed therapy is therefore believed to be the only option to further improve patient outcomes. Recent advances in the understanding of complex interactions between fungi and host have led to the design and exploration of novel therapeutic strategies in cytokine therapy, vaccines, and cellular immunotherapy, each of which might become viable adjuncts to existing antifungal regimens. In this report, we discuss immunotherapeutic approaches-the rationale behind their design, the challenges in their use, and the progress that is so urgently needed to overcome the devastating effect of fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Armstrong-James
- Fungal Pathogens Laboratory, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - Gordon D Brown
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Teresa Zelante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Stuart M Levitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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20
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Abstract
Invasive fungal infections continue to appear in record numbers as the immunocompromised population of the world increases, owing partially to the increased number of individuals who are infected with HIV and partially to the successful treatment of serious underlying diseases. The effectiveness of current antifungal therapies - polyenes, flucytosine, azoles and echinocandins (as monotherapies or in combinations for prophylaxis, or as empiric, pre-emptive or specific therapies) - in the management of these infections has plateaued. Although these drugs are clinically useful, they have several limitations, such as off-target toxicity, and drug-resistant fungi are now emerging. New antifungals are therefore needed. In this Review, I discuss the robust and dynamic antifungal pipeline, including results from preclinical academic efforts through to pharmaceutical industry products, and describe the targets, strategies, compounds and potential outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Perfect
- Duke University Medical Center, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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21
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Bandara HMHN, Matsubara VH, Samaranayake LP. Future therapies targeted towards eliminating Candida biofilms and associated infections. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2016; 15:299-318. [PMID: 27927053 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2017.1268530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Candida species are common human commensals and cause either superficial or invasive opportunistic infections. The biofilm form of candida as opposed to its suspended, planktonic form, is predominantly associated with these infections. Alternative or adjunctive therapies are urgently needed to manage Candida infections as the currently available short arsenal of antifungal drugs has been compromised due to their systemic toxicity, cross-reactivity with other drugs, and above all, by the emergence of drug-resistant Candida species due to irrational drug use. Areas covered: Combination anti-Candida therapies, antifungal lock therapy, denture cleansers, and mouth rinses have all been proposed as alternatives for disrupting candidal biofilms on different substrates. Other suggested approaches for the management of candidiasis include the use of natural compounds, such as probiotics, plants extracts and oils, antifungal quorum sensing molecules, anti-Candida antibodies and vaccines, cytokine therapy, transfer of primed immune cells, photodynamic therapy, and nanoparticles. Expert commentary: The sparsity of currently available antifungals and the plethora of proposed anti-candidal therapies is a distinct indication of the urgent necessity to develop efficacious therapies for candidal infections. Alternative drug delivery approaches, such as probiotics, reviewed here is likely to be a reality in clinical settings in the not too distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M H N Bandara
- a School of Dentistry , The University of Queensland , Herston , QLD , Australia
| | - V H Matsubara
- b School of Dentistry , University of São Paulo , São Paulo , SP , Brazil.,c Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences , University of São Paulo , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - L P Samaranayake
- a School of Dentistry , The University of Queensland , Herston , QLD , Australia.,d Faculty of Dentistry , University of Kuwait , Kuwait
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22
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Abstract
Fungal organisms are ubiquitous in the environment. Pathogenic fungi, although relatively few in the whole gamut of microbial pathogens, are able to cause disease with varying degrees of severity in individuals with normal or impaired immunity. The disease state is an outcome of the fungal pathogen's interactions with the host immunity, and therefore, it stands to reason that deep/invasive fungal diseases be amenable to immunotherapy. Therefore, antifungal immunotherapy continues to be attractive as an adjunct to the currently available antifungal chemotherapy options for a number of reasons, including the fact that existing antifungal drugs, albeit largely effective, are not without limitations, and that morbidity and mortality associated with invasive mycoses are still unacceptably high. For several decades, intense basic research efforts have been directed at development of fungal immunotherapies. Nevertheless, this approach suffers from a severe bench-bedside disconnect owing to several reasons: the chemical and biological peculiarities of the fungal antigens, the complexities of host-pathogen interactions, an under-appreciation of the fungal disease landscape, the requirement of considerable financial investment to bring these therapies to clinical use, as well as practical problems associated with immunizations. In this general, non-exhaustive review, we summarize the features of ongoing research efforts directed towards devising safe and effective immunotherapeutic options for mycotic diseases, encompassing work on antifungal vaccines, adoptive cell transfers, cytokines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and other agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kausik Datta
- a Division of Infectious Diseases , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA , and
| | - Mawieh Hamad
- b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Sharjah Institute for Medical Research , University of Sharjah , Sharjah , UAE
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23
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Kniemeyer O, Ebel F, Krüger T, Bacher P, Scheffold A, Luo T, Strassburger M, Brakhage AA. Immunoproteomics of Aspergillus for the development of biomarkers and immunotherapies. Proteomics Clin Appl 2016; 10:910-921. [PMID: 27312145 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201600053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus play significant roles as pathogens causing superficial and invasive infections as well as allergic reactions in humans. Particularly invasive mycoses caused by Aspergillus species are characterized by high mortality rates due to difficult diagnosis and insufficient antifungal therapy. The application of immunoproteomic approaches has a great potential to identify new targets for the diagnosis, therapy, and vaccine development of diseases caused by Aspergillus species. Serological proteome analyses (SERPA) that combine 2D electrophoresis with Western blotting are still one of the most popular techniques for the identification of antigenic proteins. However, recently a growing number of approaches have been developed to identify proteins, which either provoke an antibody response or which represent targets of T-cell immunity in patients with allergy or fungal infections. Here, we review advances in the studies of immune responses against pathogenic Aspergilli as well as the current status of diagnosis and immunotherapy of Aspergillus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Frank Ebel
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Petra Bacher
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Scheffold
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Rheumatism Research Centre (DRFZ) Berlin, Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Strassburger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.,Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany. .,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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24
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Fuji S, Löffler J, Einsele H, Kapp M. Immunotherapy for opportunistic infections: Current status and future perspectives. Virulence 2016; 7:939-949. [PMID: 27385102 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1207038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The outcome after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has significantly improved during the last decades. However, opportunistic infections such as viral and mold infections are still a major obstacle for cure. Within this field, adoptive T cell therapy against pathogens is a promising treatment approach. Recently, the techniques to develop T cell products including pathogen-specific T cells have been sophisticated and are now available in accordance to good manufacturing practice (GMP). Here, we aim to summarize current knowledge about adoptive T cell therapy against viral and mold infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Fuji
- a Department of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , National Cancer Center Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.,b Department of Internal Medicine II , Division of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Jürgen Löffler
- b Department of Internal Medicine II , Division of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Hermann Einsele
- b Department of Internal Medicine II , Division of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Markus Kapp
- b Department of Internal Medicine II , Division of Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
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25
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Gottlieb D. Antifungal T cells--progress in manufacture and prospects for the clinic. Cytotherapy 2016; 17:1329-31. [PMID: 26348999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Gottlieb
- Department of Haematology, University of Sydney, Program Director BMT, Head Cell Therapies, Westmead Hospital Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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26
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Mancini N, Marrone L, Clementi N, Sautto GA, Clementi M, Burioni R. Adoptive T-cell therapy in the treatment of viral and opportunistic fungal infections. Future Microbiol 2016; 10:665-82. [PMID: 25865200 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral infections and opportunistic fungal pathogens represent a major menace for immunocompromised patients. Despite the availability of antifungal and antiviral drugs, mortality in these patients remains high, underlining the need of novel therapeutic options based on completely different strategies. This review describes the potential of several T-cell-based therapeutic approaches in the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases with a particular focus on persistent viral infections and opportunistic fungal infections, as these mostly affect immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicasio Mancini
- Laboratorio di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università 'Vita-Salute' San Raffaele, DIBIT2, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
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27
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Schmidt S, Schneider A, Demir A, Lass-Flörl C, Lehrnbecher T. Natural killer cell-mediated damage of clinical isolates of mucormycetes. Mycoses 2015; 59:34-8. [DOI: 10.1111/myc.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stanislaw Schmidt
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; Hospital for Children and Adolescents; Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University; Frankfurt Germany
| | - Andreas Schneider
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; Hospital for Children and Adolescents; Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University; Frankfurt Germany
| | - Asuman Demir
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; Hospital for Children and Adolescents; Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University; Frankfurt Germany
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology; Innsbruck Medical University; Innsbruck Austria
| | - Thomas Lehrnbecher
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; Hospital for Children and Adolescents; Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University; Frankfurt Germany
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28
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Deo SS, Virassamy B, Halliday C, Clancy L, Chen S, Meyer W, Sorrell TC, Gottlieb DJ. Stimulation with lysates of Aspergillus terreus, Candida krusei and Rhizopus oryzae maximizes cross-reactivity of anti-fungal T cells. Cytotherapy 2015; 18:65-79. [PMID: 26552765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 09/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Invasive fungal diseases caused by filamentous fungi and yeasts are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed hematology patients. We previously published a method to expand Aspergillus fumigatus-specific T cells for clinical cell therapy. In the present study, we investigated expansion of T cells specific for other fungal pathogens and creation of a broadly reactive panfungal T-cell product. METHODS Fungal strains selected were those frequently observed in the clinical hematology setting and included Aspergillus, Candida, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Lomentospora/Scedosporium. Four T-cell cultures specific to each fungus were established. We selected lysates of Aspergillus terreus, Candida krusei and Rhizopus oryzae to expand panfungal T cells. Allelic restriction of anti-fungal activity was determined through the use of specific major histocompatibility complex class II-blocking antibodies. RESULTS Individual T-cell cultures specific to each fungus could be expanded in vitro, generating predominantly CD4(+) T cells of which 8% to 20% were fungus-specific. We successfully expanded panfungal T cells from the peripheral blood (n = 8) and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor-primed stem cell products (n = 3) of normal donors by using a combination of lysates from Aspergillus terreus, Candida krusei and Rhizopus oryzae. Anti-fungal activity was mediated through human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR alleles and was maintained when antigen-presenting cells from partially HLA-DRB1-matched donors were used to stimulate T cells. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a method to manufacture panfungal T-cell products with specificity against a range of clinical fungal pathogens by use of the blood and stem cells of healthy donors as the starting material. The safety and efficacy of these products will need to be tested clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivashni S Deo
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Balaji Virassamy
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Catriona Halliday
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leighton Clancy
- Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sharon Chen
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Tania C Sorrell
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - David J Gottlieb
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit, Department of Haematology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Deo SS, Gottlieb DJ. Adoptive T-cell therapy for fungal infections in haematology patients. Clin Transl Immunology 2015; 4:e40. [PMID: 26366286 PMCID: PMC4558438 DOI: 10.1038/cti.2015.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The prolonged immune deficiency resulting from haematopoietic stem cell transplant and chemotherapy predisposes to a high risk of invasive fungal infections. Despite the recent advances in molecular diagnostic testing, early initiation of pre-emptive antifungal therapy and the use of combination pharmacotherapy, mortality from invasive mould infections remain high among recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplant. The increasing incidences of previously rare and drug-resistant strains of fungi present a further clinical challenge. Therefore, there is a need for novel strategies to combat fungal infections in the immunocompromised. Adoptive therapy using in vitro-expanded fungus-specific CD4 cells of the Th-1 type has shown clinical efficacy in murine studies and in a small human clinical study. Several techniques for the isolation and expansion of fungus-specific T cells have been successfully applied. Here we discuss the incidence and changing patterns of invasive fungal diseases, clinical evidence supporting the role of T cells in fungal immunity, methods to expand fungus-specific T cells in the laboratory and considerations surrounding the use of T cells for fungal immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivashni S Deo
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research , Westmead, NSW, Australia ; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Gottlieb
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research , Westmead, NSW, Australia ; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit, Department of Haematology, Westmead Hospital , Westmead, NSW, Australia ; Sydney Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Westmead Hospital , Westmead, NSW, Australia
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Bacher P, Jochheim-Richter A, Mockel-Tenbrink N, Kniemeyer O, Wingenfeld E, Alex R, Ortigao A, Karpova D, Lehrnbecher T, Ullmann AJ, Hamprecht A, Cornely O, Brakhage AA, Assenmacher M, Bonig H, Scheffold A. Clinical-scale isolation of the total Aspergillus fumigatus-reactive T-helper cell repertoire for adoptive transfer. Cytotherapy 2015; 17:1396-405. [PMID: 26188965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Evidence of the criticality of the adaptive immune response for controlling invasive aspergillosis has been provided. This observation is supported by the fact that invasive aspergillosis, a grave complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, occurs long after myeloid reconstitution in patients with low T-cell engraftment and/or on immunosuppressants. Adoptive T-cell transfer might be beneficial, but idiosyncrasies of Aspergillus fumigatus and the anti-Aspergillus immune response render established selection technologies ineffective. METHODS We developed a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant protocol for preparation of A. fumigatus-specific CD4+ cells by sequentially depleting regulatory and cytotoxic T cells, activating A. fumigatus-specific T-helper cells with GMP-grade A. fumigatus lysate, and immuno-magnetically isolating them via the transiently up-regulated activation marker, CD137. RESULTS In 13 full-scale runs, we demonstrate robustness and feasibility of the approach. From 2 × 10(9) peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we isolated 27 × 10(3)-318 × 10(3)Aspergillus-specific T-helper cells. Frequency among total T cells was increased, on average, by 200-fold. Specific studies indicate specificity and functionality: After non-specific in vitro expansion and re-stimulation with different antigens, we observed strong cytokine responses to A. fumigatus and some other fungi including Candida albicans, but none to unrelated antigens. DISCUSSION Our technology isolates naturally occurring Aspergillus-specific T-helper cells within 2 days of identifying the clinical indication. Rapid adoptive transfer of Aspergillus-specific T cells may be quite feasible; the clinical benefit remains to be demonstrated. A manufacturing license as an advanced-therapy medicinal product was received and a clinical trial in post-transplantation invasive aspergillosis patients approved. The product is dosed at 5 × 10E3/kg T cells (single intravenous injection), of which at least 10% must be A. fumigatus-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Bacher
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Jochheim-Richter
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Department of Translational Development of Cellular Therapeutics (GMP), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Eva Wingenfeld
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Department of Translational Development of Cellular Therapeutics (GMP), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Alice Ortigao
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Department of Translational Development of Cellular Therapeutics (GMP), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Darja Karpova
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Department of Translational Development of Cellular Therapeutics (GMP), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Lehrnbecher
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital III, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andrew J Ullmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Axel Hamprecht
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD); German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver Cornely
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute (HKI) Jena and Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Department of Translational Development of Cellular Therapeutics (GMP), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Institute Frankfurt, Germany; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| | - Alexander Scheffold
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Germany; German Rheumatism Research Center, Berlin, Germany
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Tischer S, Priesner C, Heuft HG, Goudeva L, Mende W, Barthold M, Kloeß S, Arseniev L, Aleksandrova K, Maecker-Kolhoff B, Blasczyk R, Koehl U, Eiz-Vesper B. Rapid generation of clinical-grade antiviral T cells: selection of suitable T-cell donors and GMP-compliant manufacturing of antiviral T cells. J Transl Med 2014; 12:336. [PMID: 25510656 PMCID: PMC4335407 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-014-0336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The adoptive transfer of allogeneic antiviral T lymphocytes derived from seropositive donors can safely and effectively reduce or prevent the clinical manifestation of viral infections or reactivations in immunocompromised recipients after hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). Allogeneic third party T-cell donors offer an alternative option for patients receiving an allogeneic cord blood transplant or a transplant from a virus-seronegative donor and since donor blood is generally not available for solid organ recipients. Therefore we established a registry of potential third-party T-cell donors (allogeneic cell registry, alloCELL) providing detailed data on the assessment of a specific individual memory T-cell repertoire in response to antigens of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus (ADV), and human herpesvirus (HHV) 6. Methods To obtain a manufacturing license according to the German Medicinal Products Act, the enrichment of clinical-grade CMV-specific T cells from three healthy CMV-seropositive donors was performed aseptically under GMP conditions using the CliniMACS cytokine capture system (CCS) after restimulation with an overlapping peptide pool of the immunodominant CMVpp65 antigen. Potential T-cell donors were selected from alloCELL and defined as eligible for clinical-grade antiviral T-cell generation if the peripheral fraction of IFN-γ+ T cells exceeded 0.03% of CD3+ lymphocytes as determined by IFN-γ cytokine secretion assay. Results Starting with low concentration of IFN-γ+ T cells (0.07-1.11%) we achieved 81.2%, 19.2%, and 63.1% IFN-γ+CD3+ T cells (1.42 × 106, 0.05 × 106, and 1.15 × 106) after enrichment. Using the CMVpp65 peptide pool for restimulation resulted in the activation of more CMV-specific CD8+ than CD4+ memory T cells, both of which were effectively enriched to a total of 81.0% CD8+IFN-γ+ and 38.4% CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells. In addition to T cells and NKT cells, all preparations contained acceptably low percentages of contaminating B cells, granulocytes, monocytes, and NK cells. The enriched T-cell products were stable over 72 h with respect to viability and ratio of T lymphocytes. Conclusions The generation of antiviral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by CliniMACS CCS can be extended to a broad spectrum of common pathogen-derived peptide pools in single or multiple applications to facilitate and enhance the efficacy of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0336-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Tischer
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Christoph Priesner
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Hans-Gert Heuft
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Lilia Goudeva
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Mende
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Marc Barthold
- Staff office for Quality Management in Clinical Research, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Stephan Kloeß
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Lubomir Arseniev
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Krasimira Aleksandrova
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Britta Maecker-Kolhoff
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Feodor-Lynen Strasse 21, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Zumla A, Memish ZA, Maeurer M, Bates M, Mwaba P, Al-Tawfiq JA, Denning DW, Hayden FG, Hui DS. Emerging novel and antimicrobial-resistant respiratory tract infections: new drug development and therapeutic options. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2014; 14:1136-1149. [PMID: 25189352 PMCID: PMC7106460 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(14)70828-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens for which diminishing treatment options are available is of major global concern. New viral respiratory tract infections with epidemic potential, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, swine-origin influenza A H1N1, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, require development of new antiviral agents. The substantial rise in the global numbers of patients with respiratory tract infections caused by pan-antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and multiazole-resistant fungi has focused attention on investments into development of new drugs and treatment regimens. Successful treatment outcomes for patients with respiratory tract infections across all health-care settings will necessitate rapid, precise diagnosis and more effective and pathogen-specific therapies. This Series paper describes the development and use of new antimicrobial agents and immune-based and host-directed therapies for a range of conventional and emerging viral, bacterial, and fungal causes of respiratory tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alimuddin Zumla
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals, London, UK; University of Zambia-University College London Research and Training Project, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Markus Maeurer
- Therapeutic Immunology, Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew Bates
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK; University of Zambia-University College London Research and Training Project, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Peter Mwaba
- University of Zambia-University College London Research and Training Project, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David W Denning
- National Aspergillosis Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, University of South Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Frederick G Hayden
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David S Hui
- Division of Respiratory Medicine and Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Schmidt S, Tramsen L, Schneider A, Balan A, Lehrnbecher T. Immunotherapeutic strategies against mucormycosis in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Mycoses 2014; 57 Suppl 3:8-12. [PMID: 25231156 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mucormycoses remain a serious complication in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In these patients, mortality rates of mucormycosis reach up to 90%, which is due, at least in part, to the severe and prolonged immunosuppression after transplantation. Although prolonged neutropaenia is one of the most important risk factors for mucormycosis, other cell populations, such as CD4(+) T cells may also provide critical defence mechanisms against this infection. The management of mucormycosis includes antifungal therapy, surgery and, most importantly, the control of the underlying predisposing conditions, such as the correction of an impaired immune system. Here, we review the current data of granulocytes, antifungal T cells and natural killer cells regarding their activity against mucormycetes and regarding a potential immunotherapeutic approach. It is hoped that further animal studies and clinical trials assessing immunotherapeutic strategies will ultimately improve the poor prognosis of allogeneic HSCT recipients suffering from mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislaw Schmidt
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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Klarmann D, Sireis W, Hogardt M, Kempf VAJ, Seifried E, Bonig H. A validation protocol and evaluation algorithms to determine compatibility of cell therapy product matrices in microbiological testing. Cell Tissue Bank 2014; 16:311-8. [PMID: 25204399 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-014-9474-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
As part of product release testing, "sterility" of cellular therapy products, using formally validated methods, must be demonstrated, irrespective of whether products are released and administered while microbiological results are pending or whether these can be awaited. Components of the matrix, i.e. the carrier fluid and the therapeutic cells, could potentially inhibit bacterial growth and may thus obscure their presence, resulting in false-negative data. The European Pharmacopoeia and equivalent guidelines therefore specify that for each cell therapy product the specific matrix' compatibility with validated detection methods is formally established. There for, matrix is spiked with known numbers of representative aerobic and anaerobic agents, cultured in automated systems such as BacT/ALERT, followed by microbiological species identification from culture-positive bottles. We here propose an easy-to-follow protocol for matrix validation and demonstrate its successful execution with a panel of novel advanced therapy medicinal products and standard cell therapy products, as well as algorithms for interpretation of conflicting results between BacT/Alert and culture methods. This protocol can serve as a basis for microbiological method (matrix) validations for cellular preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Klarmann
- German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Frankfurt, Germany
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35
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Bacher P, Kniemeyer O, Teutschbein J, Thön M, Vödisch M, Wartenberg D, Scharf DH, Koester-Eiserfunke N, Schütte M, Dübel S, Assenmacher M, Brakhage AA, Scheffold A. Identification of Immunogenic Antigens fromAspergillus fumigatusby Direct Multiparameter Characterization of Specific Conventional and Regulatory CD4+T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:3332-43. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Muszewska A, Pawłowska J, Krzyściak P. Biology, systematics, and clinical manifestations of Zygomycota infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 33:1273-87. [PMID: 24615580 PMCID: PMC4077243 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-014-2076-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Fungi cause opportunistic, nosocomial, and community-acquired infections. Among fungal infections (mycoses) zygomycoses are exceptionally severe, with a mortality rate exceeding 50%. Immunocompromised hosts, transplant recipients, and diabetic patients with uncontrolled keto-acidosis and high iron serum levels are at risk. Zygomycota are capable of infecting hosts immune to other filamentous fungi. The infection often follows a progressive pattern, with angioinvasion and metastases. Moreover, current antifungal therapy frequently has an unfavorable outcome. Zygomycota are resistant to some of the routinely used antifungals, among them azoles (except posaconazole) and echinocandins. The typical treatment consists of surgical debridement of the infected tissues accompanied by amphotericin B administration. The latter has strong nephrotoxic side effects, which make it unsuitable for prophylaxis. Delayed administration of amphotericin and excision of mycelium-containing tissues worsens survival prognoses. More than 30 species of Zygomycota are involved in human infections, among them Mucorales is the most abundant. Prognosis and treatment suggestions differ for each species, which makes fast and reliable diagnosis essential. Serum sample PCR-based identification often gives false-negative results; culture-based identification is time-consuming and not always feasible. With the dawn of Zygomycota sequencing projects significant advancement is expected, as in the case of treatment of Ascomycota infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Muszewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawiskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland,
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Keller MD, Bollard CM. Immunologic special forces: anti-pathogen cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunotherapy following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Immunotargets Ther 2014; 3:97-106. [PMID: 27274983 PMCID: PMC4889027 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s40082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-pathogen adoptive T-cell immunotherapy has been proven to be highly effective in preventing or controlling viral infections following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recent advances in manufacturing protocols allow an increased number of targeted pathogens, eliminate the need for viral transduction, broaden the potential donor pool to include pathogen-naïve sources, and reduce the time requirement for production. Early studies suggest that anti-fungal immunotherapy may also have clinical benefit. Future advances include further broadening of the pathogens that can be targeted and development of T-cells with resistance to pharmacologic immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Keller
- Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, washington, DC, USA
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, washington, DC, USA
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Fuji S, Kapp M, Einsele H. Monitoring of pathogen-specific T-cell immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Front Immunol 2013; 4:276. [PMID: 24062744 PMCID: PMC3775001 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been significantly improved during the last decades with regard to the reduction in organ failure, infection, and severe acute graft-versus-host disease. However, severe complications due to infectious diseases are still one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic HSCT, in particular in patients receiving haploidentical HSCT or cord blood transplant due to a slow and often incomplete immune reconstitution. In order to improve the immune control of pathogens without an increased risk of alloreactivity, adoptive immunotherapy using highly enriched pathogen-specific T cells offers a promising approach. In order to identify patients who are at high risk for infectious diseases, several monitoring assays have been developed with potential for the guidance of immunosuppressive drugs and adoptive immunotherapy in clinical practice. In this article, we aim to give a comprehensive overview regarding current developments of T-cell monitoring techniques focusing on T cells against viruses and fungi. In particular, we will focus on rather simple, fast, non-labor-intensive, cellular assays which could be integrated in routine clinical screening approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Fuji
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Hematology, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany ; Division of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Cancer Center Hospital , Tokyo , Japan
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Brehm C, Huenecke S, Pfirrmann V, Rossig C, Mackall CL, Bollard CM, Gottschalk S, Schlegel PG, Klingebiel T, Bader P. Highlights of the third International Conference on Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2013; 30:349-66. [PMID: 23758210 DOI: 10.3109/08880018.2013.802106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The third International Conference on Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology was held in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, October 1-2, 2012. Major topics of the conference included (i) cellular therapies using antigen-specific and gene-modified T cells for targeting leukemia and pediatric solid tumors; (ii) overcoming hurdles and barriers with regard to immunogenicity, immune escape, and the role of tumor microenvironment; (iii) vaccine strategies and antigen presentation; (iv) haploidentical transplantation and innate immunity; (v) the role of immune cells in allogeneic transplantation; and (vi) current antibody/immunoconjugate approaches for the treatment of pediatric malignancies. During the past decade, major advances have been made in improving the efficacy of these modalities and regulatory hurdles have been taken. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go to fully exploit the potential of immunotherapeutic strategies to improve the cure of children and adolescents with malignancies. This and future meetings will support new collaborations and insights for further translational and clinical immunotherapy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Brehm
- Department for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, J.W. Goethe-University Hospital, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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