Open AccessThe unique potency of Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) in situ cancer vaccine
Author(s) -
Sourabh Shukla,
Chao Wang,
Veronique Beiss,
Hui Cai,
Torus Washington,
Abner A. Murray,
Xingjian Gong,
Zhongchao Zhao,
Hema Masarapu,
Adam Zlotnick,
Steven Fiering,
Nicole F. Steinmetz
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
biomaterials science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.422
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 2047-4849
pISSN - 2047-4830
DOI - 10.1039/d0bm01219j
Subject(s) - cowpea mosaic virus , potency , virology , mosaic virus , biology , in situ , virus , plant virus , chemistry , in vitro , genetics , organic chemistry
The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment enables cancer to resist immunotherapies. We have established that intratumoral administration of plant-derived Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) nanoparticles as an in situ vaccine overcomes the local immunosuppression and stimulates a potent anti-tumor response in several mouse cancer models and canine patients. CPMV does not infect mammalian cells but acts as a danger signal that leads to the recruitment and activation of innate and subsequently, adaptive immune cells. In the present study we addressed whether other icosahedral viruses or virus-like particles (VLPs) of plant, bacteriophage and mammalian origin can be similarly employed as intratumoral immunotherapy. Our results indicate that CPMV in situ vaccine outperforms Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), Physalis mosaic virus (PhMV), Sesbania mosaic virus (SeMV), bacteriophage Qβ VLPs, or Hepatitis B virus capsids (HBVc). Furthermore, ex vivo and in vitro assays reveal unique features of CPMV that makes it an inherently stronger immune stimulant.