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Method Article
* These authors contributed equally
In this manuscript, we describe a simple method of growth, purification, and titration of the oncolytic herpes simplex virus for preclinical use.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs), such as the oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), are a rapidly growing treatment strategy in the field of cancer immunotherapy. OVs, including oHSV, selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells (sparing healthy/normal cells) while inducing anti-tumor immunity. Because of these unique properties, oHSV-based treatment strategies are being increasingly used for the treatment of cancer, preclinically and clinically, including FDA-approved talimogene laherparevec (T-Vec). Growth, purification, and titration are three essential laboratory techniques for any OVs, including oHSVs, before they can be utilized for experimental studies. This paper describes a simple step-by-step method to amplify oHSV in Vero cells. As oHSVs multiply, they produce a cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero cells. Once 90-100% of the infected cells show a CPE, they are gently harvested, treated with benzonase and magnesium chloride (MgCl2), filtered, and subjected to purification using the sucrose-gradient method. Following purification, the number of infectious oHSV (designated as plaque-forming units or PFUs) is determined by a "plaque assay" in Vero cells. The protocol described herein can be used to prepare high-titer oHSV stock for in vitro studies in cell culture and in vivo animal experiments.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are an emerging and unique form of cancer immunotherapy. OVs selectively replicate in and lyse tumor cells (sparing normal/healthy cells)1 while inducing anti-tumor immunity2. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is one of the most extensively studied viruses among all OVs. It is furthest along in the clinic, with Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) being the first and only OV to receive FDA approval in the USA for the treatment of advanced melanoma3. In addition to T-VEC, many other genetically engineered oHSVs are being tested preclinically and clinically in different cancer types3,4,5,6,7,8. The current advanced recombinant DNA biotechnology has further increased the feasibility of engineering new oHSVs coding for therapeutic transgene(s)3,5. An efficient system of oHSV propagation, purification, and titer determination is critical before any (newly developed) oHSV can be tested for in vitro and in vivo studies. This paper describes a simple step-by-step method of oHSV growth (in Vero cells), purification (by the sucrose-gradient method), and titration (by an oHSV plaque assay in Vero cells) (Figure 1). It can be easily adopted in any Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) laboratory setting to achieve a high-quality viral stock for preclinical studies.
Vero, an African green monkey kidney cell line, is the most commonly used cell line for oHSV propagation9,10,11,12,13 as Vero cells have a defective antiviral interferon signaling pathway14. Other cell lines with inactivated stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling can also be used for oHSV growth12,13. This protocol utilizes Vero cells for oHSV growth and plaque assay. Following propagation, oHSV-infected cells are harvested, lysed, and subjected to purification, wherein lysed cells are first treated with benzonase nuclease to degrade host cell DNA, prevent nucleic acid-protein aggregation, and reduce the viscosity of the cell lysate. As proper activation of benzonase often requires Mg2+, 1-2 mM MgCl2 is used in this protocol15. The host cell debris from the benzonase-treated cell lysate is further eliminated by serial filtration before high-speed sucrose-gradient centrifugation. A viscous 25% sucrose solution cushion helps to ensure a slower rate of virus migration through the sucrose layer, leaving host cell-related components in the supernatant, thus improving purification and limiting virus loss in the pellet16. The purified oHSV is then titrated on Vero cells, and viral plaques are visualized by Giemsa staining17 or X-gal staining (for LacZ encoding oHSVs)18.
1) oHSV growth
NOTE: Ensure institutional biosafety committee approval before working with oHSV. This study was conducted under approved IBC Protocol no. 18007. Maintain BSL2 precautions: bleach all pipets, tips, tubes, and other materials that come into contact with the virus. Spray gloves with 70% isopropyl alcohol before hands leave the BSL2 cell culture hood. Always thoroughly wash hands with soap water after working with a virus.
2) oHSV purification
3. oHSV titration and plaque assay
A brief overview of the entire protocol is depicted in Figure 1, which represents the critical steps involved in the growth, purification, and titration of oHSV. CPE in Vero cells can be detected as early as 4 h post-HSV infection19. Figure 2 demonstrates CPE in Vero cells at three different time points following oHSV infection. The level of the CPE is increased over time. In this protocol, 90-100% CPE is usually observed within 48 h of l...
The protocol starts with the growth of oHSV in low-passage Vero cells. The confluency of the Vero cell monolayer should be ~80% at the time of virus inoculation as overgrown cells can develop tight fibrous structures that can reduce oHSV entry into Vero cells20. Once 90-100% CPE is observed, the culture supernatant is removed, cells are harvested, resuspended in VB/supernatant (see step 1.4.6), snap-frozen, and stored at -80 °C for later purification. Blaho and colleagues employed a slig...
SDR is a co-inventor on patents relating to oncolytic herpes simplex viruses, owned and managed by Georgetown University and Massachusetts General Hospital, which have received royalties from Amgen and ActiVec Inc. and is on the Scientific Advisory Board of EG 427. The other authors have nothing to disclose.
Research in the Saha lab was supported in part by funds from the DOD (W81XWH-20-1-0702) and Dodge Jones Foundation-Abilene. Samuel D. Rabkin and Melissa R.M. Humphrey were partially supported by NIH (R01 CA160762).
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
1.7 mL centrifuge tubes | Sigma | CLS3620 | |
15 mL polypropylene centrifuge tubes | Falcon | 352097 | |
5 mL polypropylene tubes | Falcon | 352063 | |
50 mL polypropylene centrifuge tubes | Falcon | 352098 | |
6-well cell culture plates | Falcon | 353046 | |
Benzonase Nuclease | Sigma | E8263-25KU | |
Cell scraper | Fisher Scientific | 179693 | |
Dimethyl sulfoxide | Sigma | D2650-100ML | |
Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium | Corning | MT-10-013-CV | |
Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline | Corning | MT-21-031-CV | |
Fetal Bovine Serum | Hyclone | SH3007003 | |
Giemsa Stain | Sigma | G3032 | |
Glutaraldehyde | Fisher Scientific | 50-262-23 | |
Glycerol | Sigma | G5516 | |
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) | Corning | MT-21-021-CV | |
High-Glucose Dulbecco’s Phosphate-buffered Saline | Sigma | D4031 | |
Human immune globulin | Gamastan | NDC 13533-335-12 | |
Magnesium chloride | Fisher Chemical | M33-500 | |
Media Sterilization filter, 250 mL | Nalgene, Fisher Scientific | 09-740-25E | |
Media Sterilization filter, 500 mL | Nalgene, Fisher Scientific | 09-740-25C | |
Neutral Red solution | Sigma | N4638 | |
Paraformaldehyde | Fisher scientific | 15710S | |
Plate rocker | Fisher | 88861043 | |
Potassium Ferricyanide | Sigma | P8131 | |
Potassium Ferrocyanide | Sigma | P9387 | |
Sodium chloride | Fisher Chemical | S271-3 | |
Sorvall ST 16R Centrifuge | ThermoFisher Scientific | 75004381 | |
Sorvall ST 21R Centrifuge | ThermoFisher Scientific | 75002446 | |
Sterile Microcentrifuge Tubes with Screw Caps | Fisher Scientific | 02-681-371 | |
Sucrose | Fisher Scientific | BP220-1 | |
Syringe Filter, 0.45 PVDF | MilliporeSigma | SLHV033RS | |
Syringe Filter, 0.8 MCE | MilliporeSigma | SLAA033SS | |
Syringe filter, 5 µm PVDF | MilliporeSigma | SLSV025LS | |
T150 culture flask | Falcon | 355001 | |
Tris-HCl | MP Biomedicals LLC | 816116 | |
Ultrasonic water bath | Branson | CPX-952-116R | |
X-gal | Corning | 46-101-RF |
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