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Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have demonstrated transformative efficacy in treating B-cell malignancies. However, high costs and manufacturing complexities hinder their widespread use. To overcome these hurdles, we have developed the VivoVec platform, a lentiviral vector capable of generating CAR T cells in vivo. Here, we describe the incorporation of T-cell activation and costimulatory signals onto the surface of VivoVec particles (VVPs) in the form of a multidomain fusion protein and show enhanced in vivo transduction and improved CAR T-cell antitumor functionality. Furthermore, in the absence of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, administration of VVPs into nonhuman primates resulted in the robust generation of anti-CD20 CAR T cells and the complete depletion of B cells for >10 weeks. These data validate the VivoVec platform in a translationally relevant model and support its transition into human clinical testing, offering a paradigm shift in the field of CAR T-cell therapies., (© 2024 American Society of Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

DNA vaccines elicit antibody, T helper cell responses and CD8 + T cell responses. Currently, little is known about the mechanism that DNA vaccines employ to induce adaptive immune responses. Prior studies have demonstrated that stimulator of interferon genes ( STING ) and conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) play critical roles in DNA vaccine induced antibody and T cell responses. STING activation by double stranded (dsDNA) sensing proteins initiate the production of type I interferon (IFN),but the DC-intrinsic effect of STING signaling is still unclear. Here, we investigated the role of STING within cDCs on DNA vaccine induction of antibody and T cell responses. STING knockout ( STING -/- ) and conditional knockout mice that lack STING in cDCs ( cDC STING cKO ), were immunized intramuscularly with a DNA vaccine that expressed influenza A nucleoprotein (pNP). Both STING -/- and cDC STING cKO mice had significantly lower type I T helper (Th1) type antibody (anti-NP IgG 2C ) responses and lower frequencies of Th1 associated T cells (NP-specific IFN-γ + CD4 + T cells) post-immunization than wild type (WT) and cDC STING littermate control mice. In contrast, all mice had similar Th2-type NP-specific (IgG 1 ) antibody titers. STING -/- mice developed significantly lower polyfunctional CD8 + T cells than WT, cDC STING cKO and cDC STING littermate control mice. These findings suggest that STING within cDCs mediates DNA vaccine induction of type I T helper responses including IFN-γ + CD4 + T cells, and Th1-type IgG 2C antibody responses. The induction of CD8 + effector cell responses also require STING , but not within cDCs. These findings are the first to show that STING is required within cDCs to mediate DNA vaccine induced Th1 immune responses and provide new insight into the mechanism whereby DNA vaccines induce Th1 responses., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ulrich-Lewis, Draves, Roe, O’Connor, Clark and Fuller.)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be initiated by myelin-reactive CD4(+) Th cells. IL-12-polarized Th1 cells, IL-23-polarized Th17 cells, and Th17 cells that acquire Th1 characteristics were each implicated in autoimmune pathogenesis. It is debated whether Th cells that can drive the development of demyelinating lesions are phenotypically diverse or arise from a single lineage. In the current study, we assessed the requirement of IL-12 or IL-23 stimulation, as well as Th plasticity, for the differentiation of T cells capable of inducing CNS axon damage. We found that stable murine Th1 and Th17 cells independently transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (widely used as an animal model of MS) in the absence of IL-23 and IL-12, respectively. Plastic Th17 cells are particularly potent mediators of demyelination and axonopathy. In parallel studies, we identified MS patients who consistently mount either IFN-γ- or IL-17-skewed responses to myelin basic protein over the course of a year. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed that patients with mixed IFN-γ and IL-17 responses have relatively high T1 lesion burden, a measure of permanent axon damage. Our data challenge the dogma that IL-23 and Th17 plasticity are universally required for the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. This study definitively demonstrates that autoimmune demyelinating disease can be driven by distinct Th-polarizing factors and effector subsets, underscoring the importance of a customized approach to the pharmaceutical management of MS., (Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Lipooligosaccharide configurations were predicted in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae isolates based on the presence of seven oligosaccharide extension-initiating genes (or alleles). Predicted configurations with 2 to 3 oligosaccharide extensions were more prevalent among middle ear than throat strains. In addition, strains with these configurations averaged higher levels of serum resistance than strains with other configurations., (Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)