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Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition
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Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 6235

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Laura Menotti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Interests: oncolytic herpes simplex virus; tropism retargeting; cancer receptors; virus engineering; virus arming; virus-mediated transgene expression
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic recalled and focused worldwide attention, perception, and awareness on viruses and highlighted the global need to prepare for future emerging threats. At present, this is just the most exposed facet of the virus world. However, viruses are much more. Virus engineering is a well-established discipline, both as a tool and as a research subject, and it is now receiving attention at the intersection with novel expanding omics breakthroughs. Thus, the possibility to retrieve viral sequences from the most diverse matrices expanded the boundaries of the virosphere in an unprecedented way. Virus engineering comes here into play, allowing for the study of the biological properties of viral entities, or just the parts thereof, that have not been isolated as particles, or whose host is not known, with tremendous implications both in ecology and global health. Virus engineering allows for reviving both known extinct or unknown possible pathogens, variants of concern, etc., and designing and devising countermeasures, drugs, or vaccines, with a constant eye on ethics and safety issues. Virus engineering allows for shedding light on virus origin, emergence, and evolution as well. Finally, an ever-growing body of knowledge builds up for increasingly sophisticated viruses engineered as therapeutic platforms themselves, for gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, or bio-nanomaterials. In this regard, submissions of original research papers, perspectives, and reviews are welcome for this Special Issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Basic virology;
  • Viral biotechnology;
  • Virus engineering platforms, toolboxes, and technologies;
  • Viral vaccine platforms;
  • Viral gene therapy;
  • Oncolytic virotherapy and immunovirotherapy;
  • Personalized medicine with virus-based biologicals;
  • Ethics of virus engineering;
  • Virus origin, emergence, and evolution;
  • Viral synthetic biology;
  • Virus metagenomics and the virosphere;
  • Virus-based bio-nanomaterials and bio-nanotechnologies.

Dr. Laura Menotti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • virus engineering
  • oncolytic virotherapy
  • immunovirotherapy
  • viral biotechnology

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1775 KiB  
Article
Antibody Binding Captures High Energy State of an Antigen: The Case of Nsp1 SARS-CoV-2 as Revealed by Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry
by Ravi Kant, Nawneet Mishra and Michael L. Gross
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17342; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417342 - 11 Dec 2023
Viewed by 722
Abstract
We describe an investigation using structural mass spectrometry (MS) of the impact of two antibodies, 15497 and 15498, binding the highly flexible SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 protein. We determined the epitopes and paratopes involved in the antibody–protein interactions by using hydrogen–deuterium exchange MS (HDX-MS). Notably, [...] Read more.
We describe an investigation using structural mass spectrometry (MS) of the impact of two antibodies, 15497 and 15498, binding the highly flexible SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 protein. We determined the epitopes and paratopes involved in the antibody–protein interactions by using hydrogen–deuterium exchange MS (HDX-MS). Notably, the Fab (Fragment antigen binding) for antibody 15498 captured a high energy form of the antigen exhibiting significant conformational changes that added flexibility over most of the Nsp1 protein. The Fab for antibody 15497, however, showed usual antigen binding behavior, revealing local changes presumably including the binding site. These findings illustrate an unusual antibody effect on an antigen and are consistent with the dynamic nature of the Nsp1 protein. Our studies suggest that this interaction capitalizes on the high flexibility of Nsp1 to undergo conformational change and be trapped in a higher energy state by binding with a specific antibody. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2931 KiB  
Article
Anti-Tumor Immunogenicity of the Oncolytic Virus CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 against Ex Vivo Peritoneal Cells from Gastric Cancer Patients
by Zhifang Zhang, Annie Yang, Shyambabu Chaurasiya, Anthony K. Park, Sang-In Kim, Jianming Lu, Hannah Valencia, Yuman Fong and Yanghee Woo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14189; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814189 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
We studied the immunotherapeutic potential of CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 oncolytic virus (OV) against gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (GCPM). We collected fresh malignant ascites (MA) or peritoneal washings (PW) during routine paracenteses and diagnostic laparoscopies from GC patients (n = 27). Cells were analyzed for [...] Read more.
We studied the immunotherapeutic potential of CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 oncolytic virus (OV) against gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (GCPM). We collected fresh malignant ascites (MA) or peritoneal washings (PW) during routine paracenteses and diagnostic laparoscopies from GC patients (n = 27). Cells were analyzed for cancer cell markers and T cells, or treated with PBS, CF33-GFP, or CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 (MOI = 3). We analyzed infectivity, replication, cytotoxicity, CD107α upregulation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, CD274 (PD-L1) blockade of cancer cells by virus-encoded anti-PD-L1 scFv, and the release of growth factors and cytokines. We observed higher CD45−/large-size cells and lower CD8+ T cell percentages in MA than PW. CD45−/large-size cells were morphologically malignant and expressed CD274 (PD-L1), CD252 (OX40L), and EGFR. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells did not express cell surface exhaustion markers. Virus infection and replication increased cancer cell death at 15 h and 48 h. CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 treatment produced functional anti-PD-L1 scFv, which blocked surface PD-L1 binding of live cancer cells and increased CD8+CD107α+ and CD4+CD107α+ T cell percentages while decreasing EGF, PDGF, soluble anti-PD-L1, and IL-10. CF33-OVs infect, replicate in, express functional proteins, and kill ex vivo GCPM cells with immune-activating effects. CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 displays real potential for intraperitoneal GCPM therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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24 pages, 870 KiB  
Review
Scanning the Horizon for Environmental Applications of Genetically Modified Viruses Reveals Challenges for Their Environmental Risk Assessment
by Michael F. Eckerstorfer, Marion Dolezel, Marianne Miklau, Anita Greiter, Andreas Heissenberger and Margret Engelhard
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031507 - 25 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
The release of novel genetically modified (GM) virus applications into the environment for agricultural, veterinary, and nature-conservation purposes poses a number of significant challenges for risk assessors and regulatory authorities. Continuous efforts to scan the horizon for emerging applications are needed to gain [...] Read more.
The release of novel genetically modified (GM) virus applications into the environment for agricultural, veterinary, and nature-conservation purposes poses a number of significant challenges for risk assessors and regulatory authorities. Continuous efforts to scan the horizon for emerging applications are needed to gain an overview of new GM virus applications. In addition, appropriate approaches for risk assessment and management have to be developed. These approaches need to address pertinent challenges, in particular with regard to the environmental release of GM virus applications with a high probability for transmission and spreading, including transboundary movements and a high potential to result in adverse environmental effects. However, the current preparedness at the EU and international level to assess such GM virus application is limited. This study addresses some of the challenges associated with the current situation, firstly, by conducting a horizon scan to identify emerging GM virus applications with relevance for the environment. Secondly, outstanding issues regarding the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of GM virus applications are identified based on an evaluation of case study examples. Specifically, the limited scientific information available for the ERA of some applications and the lack of detailed and appropriate guidance for ERA are discussed. Furthermore, considerations are provided for future work that is needed to establish adequate risk assessment and management approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition)
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34 pages, 3079 KiB  
Review
Oncolytic Virotherapy: A New Paradigm in Cancer Immunotherapy
by Simona Ruxandra Volovat, Dragos Viorel Scripcariu, Ingrid Andrada Vasilache, Cati Raluca Stolniceanu, Constantin Volovat, Iolanda Georgiana Augustin, Cristian Constantin Volovat, Madalina-Raluca Ostafe, Slevoacă-Grigore Andreea-Voichița, Toni Bejusca-Vieriu, Cristian Virgil Lungulescu, Daniel Sur and Diana Boboc
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021180 - 18 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1802
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging as potential treatment options for cancer. Natural and genetically engineered viruses exhibit various antitumor mechanisms. OVs act by direct cytolysis, the potentiation of the immune system through antigen release, and the activation of inflammatory responses or indirectly by [...] Read more.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging as potential treatment options for cancer. Natural and genetically engineered viruses exhibit various antitumor mechanisms. OVs act by direct cytolysis, the potentiation of the immune system through antigen release, and the activation of inflammatory responses or indirectly by interference with different types of elements in the tumor microenvironment, modification of energy metabolism in tumor cells, and antiangiogenic action. The action of OVs is pleiotropic, and they show varied interactions with the host and tumor cells. An important impediment in oncolytic virotherapy is the journey of the virus into the tumor cells and the possibility of its binding to different biological and nonbiological vectors. OVs have been demonstrated to eliminate cancer cells that are resistant to standard treatments in many clinical trials for various cancers (melanoma, lung, and hepatic); however, there are several elements of resistance to the action of viruses per se. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the combination of OVs with other standard treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and cellular therapies, to increase the response rate. This review provides a comprehensive update on OVs, their use in oncolytic virotherapy, and the future prospects of this therapy alongside the standard therapies currently used in cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virus Engineering and Applications: 2nd Edition)
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