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Martin NT, Crupi MJF, Taha Z, Poutou J, Whelan JT, Vallati S, Petryk J, Marius R, Austin B, Azad T, Boulanger M, Burgess T, Sanders I, Victoor C, Dickinson BC, Diallo JS, Ilkow CS, Bell JC. Engineering Rapalog-Inducible Genetic Switches Based on Split-T7 Polymerase to Regulate Oncolytic Virus-Driven Production of Tumour-Localized IL-12 for Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050709. [PMID: 37242495 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The approval of different cytokines as anti-neoplastic agents has been challenged by dose-limiting toxicities. Although reducing dose levels affords improved tolerability, efficacy is precluded at these suboptimal doses. Strategies combining cytokines with oncolytic viruses have proven to elicit potent survival benefits in vivo, despite promoting rapid clearance of the oncolytic virus itself. Herein, we developed an inducible expression system based on a Split-T7 RNA polymerase for oncolytic poxviruses to regulate the spatial and temporal expression of a beneficial transgene. This expression system utilizes approved anti-neoplastic rapamycin analogues for transgene induction. This treatment regimen thus offers a triple anti-tumour effect through the oncolytic virus, the induced transgene, and the pharmacologic inducer itself. More specifically, we designed our therapeutic transgene by fusing a tumour-targeting chlorotoxin (CLTX) peptide to interleukin-12 (IL-12), and demonstrated that the constructs were functional and cancer-selective. We next encoded this construct into the oncolytic vaccinia virus strain Copenhagen (VV-iIL-12mCLTX), and were able to demonstrate significantly improved survival in multiple syngeneic murine tumour models through both localized and systemic virus administration, in combination with rapalogs. In summary, our findings demonstrate that rapalog-inducible genetic switches based on Split-T7 polymerase allow for regulation of the oncolytic virus-driven production of tumour-localized IL-12 for improved anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas T Martin
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Mathieu J F Crupi
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Zaid Taha
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Joanna Poutou
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jack T Whelan
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sydney Vallati
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Julia Petryk
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Ricardo Marius
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Bradley Austin
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Taha Azad
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Mason Boulanger
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Tamara Burgess
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Ilson Sanders
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Camille Victoor
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Bryan C Dickinson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Carolina S Ilkow
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John C Bell
- Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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Generation of Multiple Arbovirus-like Particles Using a Rapid Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Expression Platform. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121505. [PMID: 36558839 PMCID: PMC9785247 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121505] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As demonstrated by the 2015 Zika virus outbreak in the Americas, emerging and re-emerging arboviruses are public health threats that warrant research investment for the development of effective prophylactics and therapeutics. Many arboviral diseases are underreported, neglected, or of low prevalence, yet they all have the potential to cause outbreaks of local and international concern. Here, we show the production of virus-like particles (VLPs) using a rapid and efficient recombinant vaccinia virus (VACV) expression system for five tick- and mosquito-borne arboviruses: Powassan virus (POWV), Heartland virus (HRTV), severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), Bourbon virus (BRBV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV). We detected the expression of arbovirus genes of interest by Western blot and observed the expression of VLPs that resemble native virions under transmission electron microscopy. We were also able to improve the secretion of POWV VLPs by modifying the signal sequence within the capsid gene. This study describes the use of a rapid VACV platform for the production and purification of arbovirus VLPs that can be used as subunit or vectored vaccines, and provides insights into the selection of arbovirus genes for VLP formation and genetic modifications to improve VLP secretion and yield.
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Jasperse B, O'Connell CM, Wang Y, Verardi PH. Single dose of a replication-defective vaccinia virus expressing Zika virus-like particles is protective in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6492. [PMID: 33753816 PMCID: PMC7985303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85951-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus transmitted primarily by infected mosquitos, can cause neurological symptoms such as Guillian-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. We developed several vaccinia virus (VACV) vaccine candidates for ZIKV based on replication-inducible VACVs (vINDs) expressing ZIKV pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins (vIND-ZIKVs). These vIND-ZIKVs contain elements of the tetracycline operon and replicate only in the presence of tetracyclines. The pool of vaccine candidates was narrowed to one vIND-ZIKV containing a novel mutation in the signal peptide of prM that led to higher expression and secretion of E and production of virus-like particles, which was then tested for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in mice. vIND-ZIKV grows to high titers in vitro in the presence of doxycycline (DOX) but is replication-defective in vivo in the absence of DOX, causing no weight loss in mice. C57BL/6 mice vaccinated once with vIND-ZIKV in the absence of DOX (as a replication-defective virus) developed robust levels of E-peptide-specific IFN-γ-secreting splenocytes and anti-E IgG titers, with modest levels of serum-neutralizing antibodies. Vaccinated mice treated with anti-IFNAR1 antibody were completely protected from ZIKV viremia post-challenge after a single dose of vIND-ZIKV. Furthermore, mice with prior immunity to VACV developed moderate anti-E IgG titers that increased after booster vaccination, and were protected from viremia only after two vaccinations with vIND-ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Caitlin M O'Connell
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Yuxiang Wang
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Paulo H Verardi
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
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O’Connell CM, Jasperse B, Hagen CJ, Titong A, Verardi PH. Replication-inducible vaccinia virus vectors with enhanced safety in vivo. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230711. [PMID: 32240193 PMCID: PMC7117657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia virus (VACV) has been used extensively as the vaccine against smallpox and as a viral vector for the development of recombinant vaccines and cancer therapies. Replication-competent, non-attenuated VACVs induce strong, long-lived humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and can be effective oncolytic vectors. However, complications from uncontrolled VACV replication in vaccinees and their close contacts can be severe, particularly in individuals with predisposing conditions. In an effort to develop replication-competent VACV vectors with improved safety, we placed VACV late genes encoding core or virion morphogenesis proteins under the control of tet operon elements to regulate their expression with tetracycline antibiotics. These replication-inducible VACVs would only express the selected genes in the presence of tetracyclines. VACVs inducibly expressing the A3L or A6L genes replicated indistinguishably from wild-type VACV in the presence of tetracyclines, whereas there was no evidence of replication in the absence of antibiotics. These outcomes were reflected in mice, where the VACV inducibly expressing the A6L gene caused weight loss and mortality equivalent to wild-type VACV in the presence of tetracyclines. In the absence of tetracyclines, mice were protected from weight loss and mortality, and viral replication was not detected. These findings indicate that replication-inducible VACVs based on the conditional expression of the A3L or A6L genes can be used for the development of safer, next-generation live VACV vectors and vaccines. The design allows for administration of replication-inducible VACV in the absence of tetracyclines (as a replication-defective vector) or in the presence of tetracyclines (as a replication-competent vector) with enhanced safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. O’Connell
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Brittany Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Caitlin J. Hagen
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Allison Titong
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Paulo H. Verardi
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
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EPPIC (Efficient Purification by Parental Inducer Constraint) Platform for Rapid Generation of Recombinant Vaccinia Viruses. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 17:731-738. [PMID: 32346550 PMCID: PMC7177189 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vaccinia virus (VACV) was successfully used as a vaccine in the smallpox eradication campaign. Since then, it has been widely used in the development of vaccine and therapeutic vectors. However, methods of generating and purifying recombinant VACVs (rVACVs) are often time-consuming, cumbersome, and in some cases require specialized cell lines or equipment. Here, we describe a novel EPPIC (Efficient Purification by Parental Inducer Constraint) platform for the rapid generation of rVACVs using a replication-inducible VACV (vIND) as a parental virus for homologous recombination. Purification of the rVACV from the parental vIND is achieved by two serial passages in the absence of inducer (i.e., parental inducer "constraint") in standard laboratory cell lines, without the need for specialized equipment, within 1 week. We determined the optimal conditions for homologous recombination and serial purification and generated a suite of vIND parental viruses to facilitate customization of the platform. Importantly, the EPPIC platform can be adapted to rapidly generate replication-deficient and replication-competent rVACVs expressing vaccine or therapeutic antigens, with or without screening markers, by simple modifications to a DNA shuttle vector, thus allowing the rapid development, updating, and refinement of personalized or custom vaccines and therapeutic vectors in a matter of days.
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Berkey SE, Thorne SH, Bartlett DL. Oncolytic Virotherapy and the Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1036:157-172. [PMID: 29275471 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67577-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic viral therapy is a promising approach to treat many malignancies, including breast, colorectal, hepatocellular, and melanoma. The best results are seen when using "targeted and armed" viruses. These are viruses that have been genetically modified to selectively replicate within cancer cells and express specific transgenes that alter the tumor microenvironment to inhibit tumor progression. The products of these transgenes induce cell death, make the virus less virulent, compromise tumor vascularity, and are capable of modulating or enhancing the immune system-such as cytokines and chemokines. In addition, oncolytic viruses can induce anti-vascular effects and disrupt the extracellular matrix to improve viral spread within the tumor. Oncolytic viruses also improve crosstalk between fibroblasts, cytokine-induced killer cells, and cancer cells within the microenvironment, leading to enhanced tumor cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Berkey
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Steve H Thorne
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David L Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Kirscher L, Deán-Ben XL, Scadeng M, Zaremba A, Zhang Q, Kober C, Fehm TF, Razansky D, Ntziachristos V, Stritzker J, Szalay AA. Doxycycline Inducible Melanogenic Vaccinia Virus as Theranostic Anti-Cancer Agent. Theranostics 2015; 5:1045-57. [PMID: 26199644 PMCID: PMC4508495 DOI: 10.7150/thno.12533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We reported earlier the diagnostic potential of a melanogenic vaccinia virus based system in magnetic resonance (MRI) and optoacoustic deep tissue imaging (MSOT). Since melanin overproduction lead to attenuated virus replication, we constructed a novel recombinant vaccinia virus strain (rVACV), GLV-1h462, which expressed the key enzyme of melanogenesis (tyrosinase) under the control of an inducible promoter-system. In this study melanin production was detected after exogenous addition of doxycycline in two different tumor xenograft mouse models. Furthermore, it was confirmed that this novel vaccinia virus strain still facilitated signal enhancement as detected by MRI and optoacoustic tomography. At the same time we demonstrated an enhanced oncolytic potential compared to the constitutively melanin synthesizing rVACV system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Kirscher
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Xosé Luis Deán-Ben
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Miriam Scadeng
- 3. University of San Diego, Center of Functional MRI, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Angelika Zaremba
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Christina Kober
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Felix Fehm
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Daniel Razansky
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Vasilis Ntziachristos
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Stritzker
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Aladar A. Szalay
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
- 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Stritzker J, Huppertz S, Zhang Q, Geissinger U, Härtl B, Gentschev I, Szalay AA. Inducible gene expression in tumors colonized by modified oncolytic vaccinia virus strains. J Virol 2014; 88:11556-67. [PMID: 25056902 PMCID: PMC4178832 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00681-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Exogenous gene induction of therapeutic, diagnostic, and safety mechanisms could be a considerable improvement in oncolytic virotherapy. Here, we introduced a doxycycline-inducible promoter system (comprised of a tetracycline repressor, several promoter constructs, and a tet operator sequence) into oncolytic recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVACV), which were further characterized in detail. Experiments in cell cultures as well as in tumor-bearing mice were analyzed to determine the role of the inducible-system components. To accomplish this, we took advantage of the optical reporter construct, which resulted in the production of click-beetle luciferase as well as a red fluorescent protein. The results indicated that each of the system components could be used to optimize the induction rates and had an influence on the background expression levels. Depending on the given gene to be induced in rVACV-colonized tumors of patients, we discuss the doxycycline-inducible promoter system adjustment and further optimization. IMPORTANCE Oncolytic virotherapy of cancer can greatly benefit from the expression of heterologous genes. It is reasonable that some of those heterologous gene products could have detrimental effects either on the cancer patient or on the oncolytic virus itself if they are expressed at the wrong time or if the expression levels are too high. Therefore, exogenous control of gene expression levels by administration of a nontoxic inducer will have positive effects on the safety as well as the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy. In addition, it paves the way for the introduction of new therapeutic genes into the genome of oncolytic viruses that could not have been tested otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Stritzker
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sascha Huppertz
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ulrike Geissinger
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Barbara Härtl
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux GmbH, Bernried, Germany
| | - Ivaylo Gentschev
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Aladar A Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Oprea II, Viola JR, Moreno PMD, Simonson OE, Rodin S, Teller N, Tryggvason K, Lundin KE, Girnita L, Smith CIE. Repeatable, Inducible Micro-RNA-Based Technology Tightly Controls Liver Transgene Expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2014; 3:e172. [PMID: 24983837 PMCID: PMC4121515 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Inducible systems for gene expression emerge as a new class of artificial vectors offering temporal and spatial exogenous control of gene expression. However, most inducible systems are less efficient in vivo and lack the target-organ specificity. In the present study, we have developed and optimized an oligonucleotide-based inducible system for the in vivo control of transgenes in the liver. We generated a set of simple, inducible plasmid-vectors based on the addition of four units of liver-specific miR-122 target sites to the 3′untranslated region of the gene of interest. Once the vector was delivered into hepatocytes this modification induced a dramatic reduction of gene expression that could be restored by the infusion of an antagomir for miR-122. The efficiency of the system was tested in vivo, and displayed low background and strong increase in gene expression upon induction. Moreover, gene expression was repeatedly induced even several months after the first induction showing no toxic effect in vivo. By combining tissue-specific control elements with antagomir treatment we generated, optimized and validated a robust inducible system that could be used successfully for in vivo experimental models requiring tight and cyclic control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulian I Oprea
- 1] Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden [2] Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania [3] Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joana R Viola
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Pedro M D Moreno
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Oscar E Simonson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sergey Rodin
- Division of Matrix Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Karl Tryggvason
- Division of Matrix Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin E Lundin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Leonard Girnita
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl Inge Edvard Smith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden
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Hagen CJ, Titong A, Sarnoski EA, Verardi PH. Antibiotic-dependent expression of early transcription factor subunits leads to stringent control of vaccinia virus replication. Virus Res 2014; 181:43-52. [PMID: 24394294 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The use of vaccinia virus (VACV) as the vaccine against variola virus resulted in the eradication of smallpox. VACV has since been used in the development of recombinant vaccine and therapeutic vectors, but complications associated with uncontrolled viral replication have constrained its use as a live viral vector. We propose to improve the safety of VACV as a live-replicating vector by using elements of the tet operon to control the transcription of genes that are essential for viral growth. Poxviruses encode all enzymes and factors necessary for their replication within the host cell cytoplasm. One essential VACV factor is the vaccinia early transcription factor (VETF) packaged into the viral core. This heterodimeric protein is required for expression of early VACV genes. VETF is composed of a large subunit encoded by the A7L gene and a small subunit encoded by the D6R gene. Two recombinant VACVs were generated in which either the A7L or D6R gene was placed under the control of tet operon elements to allow their transcription, and therefore viral replication, to be dependent on tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline. In the absence of inducers, no plaques were produced but abortively infected cells could be identified by expression of a reporter gene. In the presence of doxycycline, both recombinant viruses replicated indistinguishably from the wild-type strain. This stringent control of VACV replication can be used for the development of safer, next-generation VACV vaccines and therapeutic vectors. Such replication-inducible VACVs would only replicate when administered with tetracycline antibiotics, and if adverse events were to occur, treatment would be as simple as antibiotic cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin J Hagen
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Allison Titong
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Ethan A Sarnoski
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States
| | - Paulo H Verardi
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, United States.
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