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Cordsmeier A, Bednar C, Kübel S, Bauer L, Ensser A. Re-Analysis of the Widely Used Recombinant Murine Cytomegalovirus MCMV-m157luc Derived from the Bacmid pSM3fr Confirms Its Hybrid Nature. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14102. [PMID: 37762404 PMCID: PMC10531225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), and, in particular, recombinant virus derived from MCMV-bacmid pSM3fr, is widely used as the small animal infection model for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). We sequenced the complete genomes of MCMV strains and recombinants for quality control. However, we noticed deviances from the deposited reference sequences of MCMV-bacmid pSM3fr. This prompted us to re-analyze pSM3fr and reannotate the reference sequence, as well as that for the commonly used MCMV-m157luc reporter virus. A correct reference sequence for this frequently used pSM3fr, containing a repaired version of m129 (MCK-2) and the luciferase gene instead of ORF m157, was constructed. The new reference also contains the original bacmid sequence, and it has a hybrid origin from MCMV strains Smith and K181.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Armin Ensser
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.C.); (C.B.); (S.K.); (L.B.)
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Bednar C, Kübel S, Cordsmeier A, Scholz B, Menschikowski H, Ensser A. A Genetically Encoded Dark-to-Bright Biosensor for Visualisation of Granzyme-Mediated Cytotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13589. [PMID: 37686395 PMCID: PMC10487497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Granzyme B (GZMB) is a key enzyme released by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells to induce apoptosis in target cells. We designed a novel fluorogenic biosensor which is able to assess GZMB activity in a specific and sensitive manner. This cleavage-responsive sensor for T cell activity level (CRSTAL) is based on a fluorescent protein that is only activated upon cleavage by GZMB or caspase-8. CRSTAL was tested in stable cell lines and demonstrated a strong and long-lasting fluorescence signal upon induction with GZMB. It can detect GZMB activity not only by overexpression of GZMB in target cells but also following transfer of GZMB and perforin from effector cells during cytotoxicity. This feature has significant implications for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in monitoring the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. CAR-T cells are a promising therapy option for various cancer types, but monitoring their activity in vivo is challenging. The development of biosensors like CRSTAL provides a valuable tool for monitoring of CAR-T cell activity. In summary, CRSTAL is a highly sensitive biosensor that can detect GZMB activity in target cells, providing a means for evaluating the cytotoxic activity of immune cells and monitoring T cell activity in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (C.B.); (S.K.); (A.C.); (B.S.); (H.M.)
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Schmidt KG, Harrer EG, Tascilar K, Kübel S, El Kenz B, Hartmann F, Simon D, Schett G, Nganou-Makamdop K, Harrer T. Characterization of Serum and Mucosal SARS-CoV-2-Antibodies in HIV-1-Infected Subjects after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:651. [PMID: 35337058 PMCID: PMC8952283 DOI: 10.3390/v14030651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Only limited data are available regarding the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in HIV-1+ patients. Therefore, we investigated the humoral immune response after BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV-1+ patients on antiretroviral therapy compared to HIV-1-uninfected subjects. Serum and saliva samples were analysed by SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgG and IgA ELISAs and a surrogate neutralization assay. While all subjects developed anti-spike IgG and IgA and neutralizing antibodies in serum after two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, the HIV-1+ subjects displayed significantly lower neutralizing capacity and anti-spike IgA in serum compared to HIV-1-uninfected subjects. Serum levels of anti-spike IgG and neutralizing activity were significantly higher in vaccinees compared to SARS-CoV-2 convalescents irrespective of HIV-1 status. Among SARS-CoV-2 convalescents, there was no significant difference in spike-specific antibody response between HIV-1+ and uninfected subjects. In saliva, anti-spike IgG and IgA antibodies were detected both in vaccinees and convalescents, albeit at lower frequencies compared to the serum and only rarely with detectable neutralizing activity. In summary, our study demonstrates that the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy, however, lower vaccine induced neutralization activity indicates a lower functionality of the humoral vaccine response in HIV-1+ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja G. Schmidt
- Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency Section, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.G.S.); (E.G.H.); (B.E.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Ellen G. Harrer
- Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency Section, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.G.S.); (E.G.H.); (B.E.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Koray Tascilar
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Sabrina Kübel
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.K.); (K.N.-M.)
| | - Boutaina El Kenz
- Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency Section, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.G.S.); (E.G.H.); (B.E.K.)
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.K.); (K.N.-M.)
| | - Fabian Hartmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - David Simon
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Krystelle Nganou-Makamdop
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.K.); (K.N.-M.)
| | - Thomas Harrer
- Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiency Section, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.G.S.); (E.G.H.); (B.E.K.)
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.T.); (F.H.); (D.S.); (G.S.)
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Hildebrandt K, Kübel S, Minet M, Fürst N, Klöppel C, Steinmetz E, Walldorf U. Enhancer analysis of the Drosophila zinc finger transcription factor Earmuff by gene targeting. Hereditas 2021; 158:41. [PMID: 34732265 PMCID: PMC8567707 DOI: 10.1186/s41065-021-00209-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many transcription factors are involved in the formation of the brain during the development of Drosophila melanogaster. The transcription factor Earmuff (Erm), a member of the forebrain embryonic zinc finger family (Fezf), is one of these important factors for brain development. One major function of Earmuff is the regulation of proliferation within type II neuroblast lineages in the brain; here, Earmuff is expressed in intermediate neural progenitor cells (INPs) and balances neuronal differentiation versus stem cell maintenance. Erm expression during development is regulated by several enhancers. RESULTS In this work we show a functional analysis of erm and some of its enhancers. We generated a new erm mutant allele by gene targeting and reintegrated Gal4 to make an erm enhancer trap strain that could also be used on an erm mutant background. The deletion of three of the previously analysed enhancers showing the most prominent expression patterns of erm by gene targeting resulted in specific temporal and spatial defects in defined brain structures. These defects were already known but here could be assigned to specific enhancer regions. CONCLUSION This analysis is to our knowledge the first systematic analysis of several large enhancer deletions of a Drosophila gene by gene targeting and will enable deeper analysis of erm enhancer functions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Hildebrandt
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Sabrina Kübel
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Present address: Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marie Minet
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Present address: Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Nora Fürst
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Present address: Genetics/Epigenetics, Saarland University, Building A2.4, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Christine Klöppel
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Eva Steinmetz
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Present address: Zoology and Physiology, Saarland University, Building B2.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Uwe Walldorf
- Developmental Biology, Saarland University, Building 61, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
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