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Aygün I, Barciszewski J. The forerunners and successful partnerships behind the BioNTech mRNA vaccine. J Appl Genet 2024; 65:47-55. [PMID: 37861886 PMCID: PMC10789661 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00793-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of nucleic acids stands as a paramount achievement in the history of scientific endeavors. By applying transformative advancements in the fields of chemistry and physics to biological systems, researchers unveiled the enigmatic nature of life. Notably, messenger RNA (mRNA) emerged as a crucial player in this profound revelation, serving as a transient intermediary for genetic information transfer between genes and proteins. Groundbreaking investigations carried out from 1944 to 1961 led to the initial identification of this pivotal molecule, captivating scientific interest for the past three decades. The field of mRNA research has witnessed a transformative shift owing to the development of cap analogs and nucleotide modifications. This revolutionary progress has fostered a new generation of potent therapeutics. Prior to the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, numerous scientists had already begun exploring the unique properties of mRNA. However, with the onset of the pandemic, mRNA catapulted into the limelight as a heroic agent, providing the foundation for highly effective vaccines that have played a crucial role in mitigating the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The successive generations of cap analogs have significantly enhanced the translation efficacy of mRNA, while the discovery of suitable purification, packaging, and delivery methods has paved the way for groundbreaking medical breakthroughs. Pioneers in the field such as Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Edward Darzynkiewicz, Robert Rhodes, Ugur Sahin, and Ozlem Tureci have made significant contributions during the early stages of mRNA research, warranting acknowledgement for their visionary endeavors. The narrative of mRNA represents a remarkable journey marked by a succession of breakthroughs in a discipline that holds immense promise for the future of medicine. Thanks to the pioneering work of these exceptional scientists, we are well-positioned to unlock the full potential of this extraordinary molecule, ushering in a new era of medical advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilkin Aygün
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego, 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Jan Barciszewski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego, 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
- NanoBioMedical Center, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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2
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Imani S, Tagit O, Pichon C. Neoantigen vaccine nanoformulations based on Chemically synthesized minimal mRNA (CmRNA): small molecules, big impact. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:14. [PMID: 38238340 PMCID: PMC10796345 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00807-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, chemically synthesized minimal mRNA (CmRNA) has emerged as a promising alternative to in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT-mRNA) for cancer therapy and immunotherapy. CmRNA lacking the untranslated regions and polyadenylation exhibits enhanced stability and efficiency. Encapsulation of CmRNA within lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPPs) offers an effective approach for personalized neoantigen mRNA vaccines with improved control over tumor growth. LPP-based delivery systems provide superior pharmacokinetics, stability, and lower toxicity compared to viral vectors, naked mRNA, or lipid nanoparticles that are commonly used for mRNA delivery. Precise customization of LPPs in terms of size, surface charge, and composition allows for optimized cellular uptake, target specificity, and immune stimulation. CmRNA-encoded neo-antigens demonstrate high translational efficiency, enabling immune recognition by CD8+ T cells upon processing and presentation. This perspective highlights the potential benefits, challenges, and future directions of CmRNA neoantigen vaccines in cancer therapy compared to Circular RNAs and IVT-mRNA. Further research is needed to optimize vaccine design, delivery, and safety assessment in clinical trials. Nevertheless, personalized LPP-CmRNA vaccines hold great potential for advancing cancer immunotherapy, paving the way for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Imani
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Oya Tagit
- Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Pichon
- Center of Molecular Biophysics, CNRS, Orléans, France.
- ART-ARNm, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and University of Orléans, Orléans, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
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Antosiewicz JM, Gilbert R, Marszalek PE. Special Issue: 18th Congress of the Polish Biophysical Society. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL : EBJ 2023; 52:483-486. [PMID: 37882816 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-023-01688-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The 18th Congress of the Polish Biophysical Society took place at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland, in September 2022. In total, 111 attendees (Attendance Profile: 107 in-person, 4 remote; Italy 1, Lithuania 1, Poland 104, United Kingdom 1, United States 4) participated in the event. The authors of lectures and posters at the Congress were invited to prepare their presentations in the form of articles in this special issue of the European Biophysics Journal. The 11 articles published in this special issue present a limited sampling of the subjects of the conference presentations. Nevertheless, they showcase excellence in Polish biophysics across a wide range of topics, using both theoretical and experimental approaches: mechanisms of receptor-ligand interactions, medical applications of proteins and nucleic acids, non-linear dynamics/molecular dynamics of protein systems, hydrodynamics and biosensing. We hope to improve on the representation of the international Polish biophysical community after the next Congress in 2025.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Antosiewicz
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland.
| | - Robert Gilbert
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
| | - Piotr E Marszalek
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Andrzejewska A, Grzela R, Stankiewicz-Drogon A, Rogujski P, Nagaraj S, Darzynkiewicz E, Lukomska B, Janowski M. Mesenchymal stem cell engineering by ARCA analog-capped mRNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 33:454-468. [PMID: 37588684 PMCID: PMC10425852 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
We previously have shown that mRNA-based engineering may enhance mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) trafficking. However, optimal conditions for in vitro mRNA engineering of MSCs are unknown. Here, we investigated several independent variables: (1) transfection factor (Lipofectamine 2000 vs. TransIT), (2) mRNA purification method (spin column vs. high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] column), and (3) mRNA capping (ARCA vs. β-S-ARCA D1 and β-S-ARCA D2). Dependent variables included protein production based on mRNA template (measured by the bioluminescence of reporter gene luciferase over hours), MSC metabolic activity corresponding with their wellbeing measured by CCK-8 over days, and endogenous expression of genes by RT-qPCR related to innate intracellular immune response and decapping at two time points: days 2 and 5. We have found that Lipofectamine 2000 outperforms TransIT, and used it throughout the study. Then, we showed that mRNA must be purified by HPLC to be relatively neutral to MSCs in terms of metabolic activity and endogenous protein production. Ultimately, we demonstrated that β-S-ARCA D1 enables higher protein production but at the cost of lower MSC metabolic activity, with no impact on RT-qPCR results. Thus Lipofectamine 2000-based in vitro transfection of HPLC-purified and ARCA- or β-S-ARCA D1-capped mRNA is optimal for MSC engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Andrzejewska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Renata Grzela
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Stankiewicz-Drogon
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Rogujski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Siranjeevi Nagaraj
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edward Darzynkiewicz
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Lukomska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Janowski
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Hepp B, Lorieux F, Degaugue A, Oberto J. VAPEX: an interactive web server for the deep exploration of natural virus and phage genomes. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:btad528. [PMID: 37624923 PMCID: PMC10471898 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Studying the genetic makeup of viruses and phages through genome analysis is crucial for comprehending their function in causing diseases, progressing medicine, tracing their evolutionary history, monitoring the environment, and creating innovative biotechnologies. However, accessing the necessary data can be challenging due to a lack of dedicated comparative genomic tools and viral and phage databases, which are often outdated. Moreover, many wet bench experimentalists may not have the computational proficiency required to manipulate large amounts of genomic data. RESULTS We have developed VAPEX (Virus And Phage EXplorer), a web server which is supported by a database and features a user-friendly web interface. This tool enables users to easily perform various genomic analysis queries on all natural viruses and phages that have been fully sequenced and are listed in the NCBI compendium. VAPEX therefore excels in producing visual depictions of fully resolved synteny maps, which is one of its key strengths. VAPEX has the ability to exhibit a vast array of orthologous gene classes simultaneously through the use of symbolic representation. Additionally, VAPEX can fully analyze user-submitted viral and phage genomes, including those that have not yet been annotated. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION VAPEX can be accessed from all current web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera. VAPEX is freely accessible at https://archaea.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr/vapex/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hepp
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris‐Saclay, 91198 Gif‐sur‐Yvette cedex, France
| | - Florence Lorieux
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris‐Saclay, 91198 Gif‐sur‐Yvette cedex, France
| | - Augustin Degaugue
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris‐Saclay, 91198 Gif‐sur‐Yvette cedex, France
| | - Jacques Oberto
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris‐Saclay, 91198 Gif‐sur‐Yvette cedex, France
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Echaide M, Chocarro de Erauso L, Bocanegra A, Blanco E, Kochan G, Escors D. mRNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: Advantages and Caveats. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065944. [PMID: 36983017 PMCID: PMC10051235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection has constituted a determinant resource to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of 2021, millions of doses have been administered in several countries of North and South America and Europe. Many studies have confirmed the efficacy of these vaccines in a wide range of ages and in vulnerable groups of people against COVID-19. Nevertheless, the emergence and selection of new variants have led to a progressive decay in vaccine efficacy. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna developed updated bivalent vaccines-Comirnaty and Spikevax-to improve responses against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants. Frequent booster doses with monovalent or bivalent mRNA vaccines, the emergence of some rare but serious adverse events and the activation of T-helper 17 responses suggest the need for improved mRNA vaccine formulations or the use of other types of vaccines. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 focusing on the most recent, related publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Echaide
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Luisa Chocarro de Erauso
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Bocanegra
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ester Blanco
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Grazyna Kochan
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - David Escors
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Navarrabiomed-Fundación Miguel Servet, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Gándara Z, Rubio N, Castillo RR. Delivery of Therapeutic Biopolymers Employing Silica-Based Nanosystems. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020351. [PMID: 36839672 PMCID: PMC9963032 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of nanoparticles is crucial for the development of a new generation of nanodevices for clinical applications. Silica-based nanoparticles can be tailored with a wide range of functional biopolymers with unique physicochemical properties thus providing several advantages: (1) limitation of interparticle interaction, (2) preservation of cargo and particle integrity, (3) reduction of immune response, (4) additional therapeutic effects and (5) cell targeting. Therefore, the engineering of advanced functional coatings is of utmost importance to enhance the biocompatibility of existing biomaterials. Herein we will focus on the most recent advances reported on the delivery and therapeutic use of silica-based nanoparticles containing biopolymers (proteins, nucleotides, and polysaccharides) with proven biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoila Gándara
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Correspondence: (Z.G.); (N.R.); (R.R.C.)
| | - Noelia Rubio
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Correspondence: (Z.G.); (N.R.); (R.R.C.)
| | - Rafael R. Castillo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Correspondence: (Z.G.); (N.R.); (R.R.C.)
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