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In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

This protocol describes a detailed workflow for the generation and ex vivo characterization of oncolytic viruses for expression of immunomodulators, using measles viruses encoding bispecific T cell engagers as an example. Application and adaptation to other vector platforms and transgenes will accelerate the development of novel immunovirotherapeutics for clinical translation.

Abstract

Successful cancer immunotherapy has the potential to achieve long-term tumor control. Despite recent clinical successes, there remains an urgent need for safe and effective therapies tailored to individual tumor immune profiles. Oncolytic viruses enable the induction of anti-tumor immune responses as well as tumor-restricted gene expression. This protocol describes the generation and ex vivo analysis of immunomodulatory oncolytic vectors. Focusing on measles vaccine viruses encoding bispecific T cell engagers as an example, the general methodology can be adapted to other virus species and transgenes. The presented workflow includes the design, cloning, rescue, and propagation of recombinant viruses. Assays to analyze replication kinetics and lytic activity of the vector as well as functionality of the isolated immunomodulator ex vivo are included, thus facilitating the generation of novel agents for further development in preclinical models and ultimately clinical translation.

Introduction

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are being developed as anti-cancer therapeutics that specifically replicate within and kill tumor cells while leaving healthy tissues intact. It has now become common understanding that oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), in most cases, does not rely solely on complete tumor lysis by efficient replication and spreading of the virus, but requires additional mechanisms of action for treatment success, including vascular and stromal targeting and, importantly, immune stimulation1,2,3,4. While many early OV studies used unm....

Protocol

NOTE: [O], [P], and [M] indicate subsections applicable to: OVs in general, (most) paramyxoviruses, or MV only, respectively. [B] indicates sections specific for BTE transgenes.

1 Cloning of Immunomodulator-encoding Transgenes into Measles Virus Vectors

  1. [O] Design insert sequence.
    1. [O] Decide on an immunomodulator of interest based on literature research or on exploratory data such as genetic screens41 and derive .......

Representative Results

Figure 1 illustrates the mechanism of action of oncolytic measles viruses encoding bispecific T cell engagers. A flowchart depicting the workflow of this protocol is presented in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows an example of a modified oncolytic measles virus genome. This provides a visual representation of the specific changes applied to the measles virus anti-genome and particular fe.......

Discussion

Oncolytic immunotherapy (i.e., OVT in combination with immunomodulation) holds great promise for cancer treatment, demanding further development and optimization of oncolytic viruses encoding immunomodulatory proteins. This protocol describes methods to generate and validate such vectors for subsequent testing in relevant preclinical models and potential future clinical translation into novel anti-cancer therapeutics.

Numerous different oncolytic virus platforms with distinct advantag.......

Acknowledgements

These methods were established in the Virotherapy Group led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Guy Ungerechts at the National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg. We are indebted to him and all members of the laboratory team, especially Dr. Tobias Speck, Dr. Rūta Veinalde, Judith Förster, Birgit Hoyler, and Jessica Albert. This work was supported by the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (Grant 2015_A78 to C.E. Engeland) and the German National Science Foundation (DFG, grant EN 1119/2-1 to C.E. Engeland). J.P.W. Heidbuechel receives a stipend by the Helmholtz International Graduate School for Cancer Research.

....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Rapid DNA Dephos & Ligation KitRoche Life Science, Mannheim, Germany4898117001
CloneJET PCR Cloning KitThermo Fisher Scientific, St. Leon-RotK1231
AgaroseSigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, GermanyA9539-500G
QIAquick Gel Extraction KitQIAGEN, Hilden, Germany28704
NEB 10-beta Competent E. coliNew England Biolabs (NEB), Frankfurt/Main, GermanyC3019I
LB medium after LennoxCarl Roth, Karlsruhe, GermanyX964.1
AmpicillinCarl Roth, Karlsruhe, GermanyHP62.1
QIAquick Miniprep KitQIAGEN, Hilden, Germany27104
Restriction enzyme HindIII-HFNew England Biolabs (NEB), Frankfurt/Main, GermanyR3104S
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM)Invitrogen, Darmstadt, Germany31966-021
Fetal bovine serum (FBS)Biosera, Boussens, FranceFB-1280/500
FugeneHDPromega, Mannheim, GermanyE2311may be replaced by transfection reagent of choice
KanamycinSigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, GermanyK0129
Vero cellsATCC, Manassas, VA, USACCL81
B16-CD46/ B16-CD20-CD46J. Heidbuechel, DKFZ Heidelbergavailable upon request
Granta-519DSMZ, Braunschweig, GermanyACC 342
Opti-MEM (serum-free medium)Gibco Life Technologies, Darmstadt, Germany31985070
Colorimetric Cell Viability Kit III (XTT)PromoKine, Heidelberg, GermanyPK-CA20-300-1000includes XTT reagent
Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS)Gibco Life Technologies, Darmstadt, Germany14190-094
QIAquick Ni-NTA Spin ColumnsQIAGEN, Hilden, Germany31014
Sodium chlorideCarl Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany3957.3
ImidazoleCarl Roth, Karlsruhe, GermanyI5513-25G
Amicon Ultra-15, PLGC Ultracel-PL Membran, 10 kDaMerck, Darmstadt, GermanyUFC901024
BCA Protein Assay KitMerck Milipore71285-3
IgG from human serumSigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, GermanyI4506
Anti-HA-PEMiltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany130-092-257RRID: AB_871939
Mouse IgG1, kappa Isotype Control, Phycoerythrin Conjugated, Clone MOPC-21 antibodyBD Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany555749RRID: AB_396091
Anti-HA-biotin antibody, clone 3F10Sigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, Germany12158167001RRID: AB_390915
Anti-Biotin MicroBeadsMiltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany130-090-485
MS ColumnsMiltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany130-042-201
MiniMACS SeparatorMiltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany130-042-102
MACS MultiStandMiltenyi Biotech, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany130-042-303
RIPA bufferRockland Immunochemicals, Gilbertsville, PA, USAMB-030-0050
CytoTox 96 Non-Radioactive Cytotoxicity AssayPromega, Mannheim, GermanyG1780includes 10x lysis solution, substrate solution (substrate mix and assay buffer), and stop solution
Cell lifterCorning, Reynosa, Mexico3008
10 cm dishesCorning, Oneonta, NY, USA430167
15 cm dishesGreiner Bio-One, Frickenhausen, Germany639160
96-well plates, U-bottomTPP, Trasadingen, Switzerland92097
96-well plates, flat bottomNeolab, Heidelberg, Germany353072
6-well platesNeolab, Heidelberg, Germany353046
12-well platesNeolab, Heidelberg, Germany353043
50 mL tubesnerbe plus, Winsen/Luhe, Germany02-572-3001
T175 cell culture flasksThermo Fisher Scientific, St. Leon-Rot159910
0.22 µm filtersMerck, Darmstadt, GermanySLGPM33RS

References

  1. Lichty, B. D., Breitbach, C. J., Stojdl, D. F., Bell, J. C. Going viral with cancer immunotherapy. Nature Reviews Cancer. 14 (8), 559-567 (2014).
  2. Cassady, K. A., Haworth, K. B., Jackson, J., Markert, J. M., Cripe, T. P. To Infec....

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