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Gujar S, Pol JG, Kumar V, Lizarralde-Guerrero M, Konda P, Kroemer G, Bell JC. Tutorial: design, production and testing of oncolytic viruses for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1. [PMID: 38769145 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a novel class of cancer immunotherapy agents that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells and promote protective antitumor immunity. Furthermore, OVs can be used in combination with established or upcoming immunotherapeutic agents, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, to efficiently target a wide range of malignancies. The development of OV-based therapy involves three major steps before clinical evaluation: design, production and preclinical testing. OVs can be designed as natural or engineered strains and subsequently selected for their ability to kill a broad spectrum of cancer cells rather than normal, healthy cells. OV selection is further influenced by multiple factors, such as the availability of a specific viral platform, cancer cell permissivity, the need for genetic engineering to render the virus non-pathogenic and/or more effective and logistical considerations around the use of OVs within the laboratory or clinical setting. Selected OVs are then produced and tested for their anticancer potential by using syngeneic, xenograft or humanized preclinical models wherein immunocompromised and immunocompetent setups are used to elucidate their direct oncolytic ability as well as indirect immunotherapeutic potential in vivo. Finally, OVs demonstrating the desired anticancer potential progress toward translation in patients with cancer. This tutorial provides guidelines for the design, production and preclinical testing of OVs, emphasizing considerations specific to OV technology that determine their clinical utility as cancer immunotherapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jonathan G Pol
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Vishnupriyan Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Manuela Lizarralde-Guerrero
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Prathyusha Konda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France.
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
| | - John C Bell
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Joo HY, Baek H, Ahn CS, Park ER, Lee Y, Lee S, Han M, Kim B, Jang YH, Kwon H. Development of a novel, high-efficacy oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 platform equipped with two distinct retargeting modalities. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200778. [PMID: 38596302 PMCID: PMC10941007 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
To retarget oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) to cancer-specific antigens, we designed a novel, double-retargeted oHSV platform that uses single-chain antibodies (scFvs) incorporated into both glycoprotein H and a bispecific adapter expressed from the viral genome to mediate infection predominantly via tumor-associated antigens. Successful retargeting was achieved using a nectin-1-detargeted HSV that remains capable of interacting with herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), the second canonical HSV entry receptor, and is, therefore, recognized by the adapter consisting of the virus-binding N-terminal 82 residues of HVEM fused to the target-specific scFv. We tested both an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)- and a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-specific scFv separately and together to target cells expressing one, the other, or both receptors. Our results show not only dose-dependent, target receptor-specific infection in vitro, but also enhanced virus spread compared with single-retargeted virus. In addition, we observed effective infection and spreading of the EpCAM double-retargeted virus in vivo. Remarkably, a single intravenous dose of the EpCAM-specific virus eliminated all detectable tumors in a subcutaneous xenograft model, and the same intravenous dose seemed to be harmless in immunocompetent FVB/N mice. Our findings suggest that our double-retargeted oHSV platform can provide a potent, versatile, and systemically deliverable class of anti-cancer therapeutics that specifically target cancer cells while ensuring safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Yoo Joo
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Baek
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chun-Seob Ahn
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ran Park
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngju Lee
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujung Lee
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mihee Han
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bora Kim
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hoon Jang
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heechung Kwon
- Gencellmed Inc., Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Room 302 Research Building #3, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Purcaru OS, Artene SA, Barcan E, Silosi CA, Stanciu I, Danoiu S, Tudorache S, Tataranu LG, Dricu A. The Interference between SARS-CoV-2 and Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Signaling in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4830. [PMID: 34063231 PMCID: PMC8124491 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer and viruses have a long history that has evolved over many decades. Much information about the interplay between viruses and cell proliferation and metabolism has come from the history of clinical cases of patients infected with virus-induced cancer. In addition, information from viruses used to treat some types of cancer is valuable. Now, since the global coronavirus pandemic erupted almost a year ago, the scientific community has invested countless time and resources to slow down the infection rate and diminish the number of casualties produced by this highly infectious pathogen. A large percentage of cancer cases diagnosed are strongly related to dysregulations of the tyrosine kinase receptor (TKR) family and its downstream signaling pathways. As such, many therapeutic agents have been developed to strategically target these structures in order to hinder certain mechanisms pertaining to the phenotypic characteristics of cancer cells such as division, invasion or metastatic potential. Interestingly, several authors have pointed out that a correlation between coronaviruses such as the SARS-CoV-1 and -2 or MERS viruses and dysregulations of signaling pathways activated by TKRs can be established. This information may help to accelerate the repurposing of clinically developed anti-TKR cancer drugs in COVID-19 management. Because the need for treatment is critical, drug repurposing may be an advantageous choice in the search for new and efficient therapeutic compounds. This approach would be advantageous from a financial point of view as well, given that the resources used for research and development would no longer be required and can be potentially redirected towards other key projects. This review aims to provide an overview of how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with different TKRs and their respective downstream signaling pathway and how several therapeutic agents targeted against these receptors can interfere with the viral infection. Additionally, this review aims to identify if SARS-CoV-2 can be repurposed to be a potential viral vector against different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana-Stefana Purcaru
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania; (O.-S.P.); (S.-A.A.); (E.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Stefan-Alexandru Artene
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania; (O.-S.P.); (S.-A.A.); (E.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Edmond Barcan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania; (O.-S.P.); (S.-A.A.); (E.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Cristian Adrian Silosi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Ilona Stanciu
- “Victor Babeş” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology, Craiova, Str. Calea Bucuresti, nr. 126, 200525 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Suzana Danoiu
- Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Stefania Tudorache
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 710204 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Ligia Gabriela Tataranu
- Department of Neurosurgery, “Bagdasar-Arseni” Emergency Hospital, Soseaua Berceni 12, 041915 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anica Dricu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, 710204 Craiova, Romania; (O.-S.P.); (S.-A.A.); (E.B.); (A.D.)
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Retargeting of viruses to generate oncolytic agents. Adv Virol 2011; 2012:798526. [PMID: 22312365 PMCID: PMC3265223 DOI: 10.1155/2012/798526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Revised: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virus therapy is based on the ability of viruses to effectively infect and kill tumor cells without destroying the normal tissues. While some viruses seem to have a natural preference for tumor cells, most viruses require the modification of their tropism to specifically enter and replicate in such cells. This review aims to describe the transductional targeting strategies currently employed to specifically redirect viruses towards surface receptors on tumor cells. Three major strategies can be distinguished; they involve (i) the incorporation of new targeting specificity into a viral surface protein, (ii) the incorporation of a scaffold into a viral surface protein to allow the attachment of targeting moieties, and (iii) the use of bispecific adapters to mediate targeting of a virus to a specified moiety on a tumor cell. Of each strategy key features, advantages and limitations are discussed and examples are given. Because of their potential to cause sustained, multiround infection—a desirable characteristic for eradicating tumors—particular attention is given to viruses engineered to become self-targeted by the genomic expression of a bispecific adapter protein.
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Baek H, Uchida H, Jun K, Kim JH, Kuroki M, Cohen JB, Glorioso JC, Kwon H. Bispecific adapter-mediated retargeting of a receptor-restricted HSV-1 vector to CEA-bearing tumor cells. Mol Ther 2010; 19:507-14. [PMID: 20924362 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The safety and efficacy of viral therapies for solid tumors can be enhanced by redirecting the virus infection to tumor-specific cell-surface markers. Successful retargeting of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been achieved using vectors that carry a modified envelope glycoprotein D (gD) engineered to interact directly with novel receptors. In addition, soluble bridging molecules (adapters) have been used to link gD indirectly to cell-specific receptors. Here, we describe the development of an adapter connecting gD to the common tumor antigen carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The adapter consisted of a CEA-specific single-chain antibody fused to the gD-binding region of the gD receptor, herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM). We used this adapter in combination with a vector that is detargeted for recognition of the widely expressed gD receptor nectin-1, but retains an intact binding region for the less common HVEM. We show that the adapter enabled infection of HSV-resistant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing ectopic CEA and nectin-1/CEA-bearing human gastric carcinoma cells that are resistant to the vector alone. We observed cell-to-cell spread following adapter-mediated infection in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo, indicating that this method of vector retargeting may provide a novel strategy for tumor-specific delivery of tumoricidal HSV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjung Baek
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, South Korea
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Abstract
Therapeutic application of siRNA requires delivery to the correct
intracellular location, to interact with the RNAi machinery within the
target cell, within the target tissue responsible for the pathology. Each of
these levels of targeting poses a significant barrier. To overcome these
barriers several strategies have been developed, such as chemical
modifications of siRNA, viral nucleic acid delivery systems, and nonviral
nucleic acid delivery systems. Here, we discuss progress that has been made
to improve targeted delivery of siRNA in vivo for each of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Oliveira
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Room Z735A,
PO Box 80082, 3508 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Storm
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Room Z735A,
PO Box 80082, 3508 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond M. Schiffelers
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Room Z735A,
PO Box 80082, 3508 Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * Raymond M. Schiffelers:
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Abstract
Formation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) occurs in two steps involving binding of the RNA nucleases to a large double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) and its cleavage into fragments called siRNA. In the second step, these siRNAs join a multinuclease complex, which degrades the homologous single‐stranded mRNAs. The delivery of siRNA involves viral‐ and non‐viral‐mediated delivery systems; the approaches for chemical modifications have also been developed. It has various therapeutic applications for disorders like cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatic disorders, etc. The present review gives an overview of the applications of siRNA and their potential for treating many hitherto untreatable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhoomika R Goyal
- Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University of Science and Technology, Ahmedabad 382 481, Gujarat, India.
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Coronavirus genetically redirected to the epidermal growth factor receptor exhibits effective antitumor activity against a malignant glioblastoma. J Virol 2009; 83:7507-16. [PMID: 19439466 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00495-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses with features attractive for oncolytic therapy. To investigate this potential, we redirected the coronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV), which is normally unable to infect human cells, to human tumor cells by using a soluble receptor (soR)-based expression construct fused to an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor targeting moiety. Addition of this adapter protein to MHV allowed infection of otherwise nonsusceptible, EGF receptor (EGFR)-expressing cell cultures. We introduced the sequence encoding the adaptor protein soR-EGF into the MHV genome to generate a self-targeted virus capable of multiround infection. The resulting recombinant MHV was viable and had indeed acquired the ability to infect all glioblastoma cell lines tested in vitro. Infection of malignant human glioblastoma U87DeltaEGFR cells gave rise to release of progeny virus and efficient cell killing in vitro. To investigate the oncolytic capacity of the virus in vivo, we used an orthotopic U87DeltaEGFR xenograft mouse model. Treatment of mice bearing a lethal intracranial U87DeltaEGFR tumor by injection with MHVsoR-EGF significantly prolonged survival compared to phosphate-buffered saline-treated (P = 0.001) and control virus-treated (P = 0.004) animals, and no recurrent tumor load was observed. However, some adverse effects were seen in normal mouse brain tissues that were likely caused by the natural murine tropism of MHV. This is the first demonstration of oncolytic activity of a coronavirus in vivo. It suggests that nonhuman coronaviruses may be attractive new therapeutic agents against human tumors.
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Coronavirus escape from heptad repeat 2 (HR2)-derived peptide entry inhibition as a result of mutations in the HR1 domain of the spike fusion protein. J Virol 2007; 82:2580-5. [PMID: 18077706 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02287-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides based on heptad repeat (HR) domains of class I viral fusion proteins are considered promising antiviral drugs targeting virus cell entry. We have analyzed the evolution of the mouse hepatitis coronavirus during multiple passaging in the presence of an HR2-based fusion inhibitor. Drug-resistant variants emerged as a result of multiple substitutions in the spike fusion protein, notably within a 19-residue segment of the HR1 region. Strikingly, one mutation, an A1006V substitution, which consistently appeared first in four independently passaged viruses, was the main determinant of the resistance phenotype, suggesting that only limited options exist for escape from the inhibitory effect of the HR2 peptide.
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Würdinger T, Verheije MH, van der Aa LM, Bosch BJ, de Haan CAM, van Beusechem VW, Gerritsen WR, Rottier PJM. Antibody-mediated targeting of viral vectors to the Fc receptor expressed on acute myeloid leukemia cells. Leukemia 2006; 20:2182-4. [PMID: 17039233 PMCID: PMC7099968 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T Würdinger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Gene Therapy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Present Address: Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - M H Verheije
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Gene Therapy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L M van der Aa
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - B J Bosch
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - C A M de Haan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - V W van Beusechem
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Gene Therapy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W R Gerritsen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Gene Therapy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P J M Rottier
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Verheije MH, Würdinger T, van Beusechem VW, de Haan CAM, Gerritsen WR, Rottier PJM. Redirecting coronavirus to a nonnative receptor through a virus-encoded targeting adapter. J Virol 2006; 80:1250-60. [PMID: 16415002 PMCID: PMC1346946 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.80.3.1250-1260.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Murine hepatitis coronavirus (MHV)-A59 infection depends on the interaction of its spike (S) protein with the cellular receptor mCEACAM1a present on murine cells. Human cells lack this receptor and are therefore not susceptible to MHV. Specific alleviation of the tropism barrier by redirecting MHV to a tumor-specific receptor could lead to a virus with appealing properties for tumor therapy. To demonstrate that MHV can be retargeted to a nonnative receptor on human cells, we produced bispecific adapter proteins composed of the N-terminal D1 domain of mCEACAM1a linked to a short targeting peptide, the six-amino-acid His tag. Preincubation of MHV with the adapter proteins and subsequent inoculation of human cells expressing an artificial His receptor resulted in infection of these otherwise nonsusceptible cells and led to subsequent production of progeny virus. To generate a self-targeted virus able to establish multiround infection of the target cells, we subsequently incorporated the gene encoding the bispecific adapter protein as an additional expression cassette into the MHV genome through targeted RNA recombination. When inoculated onto murine LR7 cells, the resulting recombinant virus indeed expressed the adapter protein. Furthermore, inoculation of human target cells with the virus resulted in a His receptor-specific infection that was multiround. Extensive cell-cell fusion and rapid cell killing of infected target cells was observed. Our results show that MHV can be genetically redirected via adapters composed of the S protein binding part of mCEACAM1a and a targeting peptide recognizing a nonnative receptor expressed on human cells, consequently leading to rapid cell death. The results provide interesting leads for further investigations of the use of coronaviruses as antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Verheije
- Virology Division, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
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