bims-drudre 2022-06-12 papers

bims-drudre

Biomed News

on Targeted drug delivery and programmed release mechanisms

Issue of 2022–06–12
sixteen papers selected by
Ceren Kimna, Technical University of Munich

Relaxation of the Plant Cell Wall Barrier via Zwitterionic Liquid Pretreatment for Micelle-Complex-Mediated DNA Delivery to Specific Plant Organelles.
Hypoxia-Reinforced Antitumor RNA Interference Mediated by Micelleplexes with Programmed Disintegration.
A naturally DNase-free CRISPR-Cas12c enzyme silences gene expression.
Engineering CpG-ASO-Pt-loaded Macrophages (CAP@M) For Synergistic Chemo-/Gene-/Immuno-Therapy.
Spermine-Responsive Intracellular Self-Aggregation of Gold Nanocages for Enhanced Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy of Breast Cancer.
Drug in Drug: A host-guest formulation of azocalixarene with hydroxychloroquine for synergistic anti-inflammation.
Synthetic libraries of immune cells displaying a diverse repertoire of chimaeric antigen receptors as a potent cancer immunotherapy.
Intracellular Crowding by Bio-Orthogonal Hydrogel Formation Induces Reversible Molecular Stasis.
A cancer cell membrane-derived biomimetic nanocarrier for synergistic photothermal/gene therapy by efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and gold nanorods.
Skin-inspired design integrates mechano-chemical-thermal robustness into superhydrophobic coatings.
Live Macrophage-Delivered Doxorubicin-Loaded Liposomes Effectively Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
Mechanically active integrins target lytic secretion at the immune synapse to facilitate cellular cytotoxicity.
Delivery of an ectonucleotidase inhibitor with ROS-responsive nanoparticles overcomes adenosine-mediated cancer immunosuppression.
Dissipative DNA nanotechnology.
Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination alone and as a heterologous booster against SARS-CoV-2.
Unraveling function and diversity of bacterial lectins in the human microbiome.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 Jun 07.

Relaxation of the Plant Cell Wall Barrier via Zwitterionic Liquid Pretreatment for Micelle-Complex-Mediated DNA Delivery to Specific Plant Organelles.

Takaaki Miyamoto, Kousuke Tsuchiya, Kiminori Toyooka, Yumi Goto, Ayaka Tateishi, Keiji Numata.

  Targeted delivery of genes to specific plant organelles is a key challenge for fundamental plant science, plant bioengineering, and agronomic applications. Nanoscale carriers have attracted interest as a promising tool for organelle-targeted DNA delivery in plants. However, nanocarrier-mediated DNA delivery in plants is severely hampered by the barrier of the plant cell wall, resulting in insufficient delivery efficiency. Herein, we propose a unique strategy that synergistically combines a cell wall-loosening zwitterionic liquid (ZIL) with a peptide-displaying micelle complex for organelle-specific DNA delivery in plants. We demonstrated that ZIL pretreatment can enhance the cell wall permeability without cytotoxicity, allowing the micelle complexes to translocate across the cell wall and carry the DNA cargo into specific plant organelles, such as nuclei and chloroplasts, with significantly augmented efficiency. Our work offers a novel concept to overcome the plant cell wall barrier for nanocarriermediated cargo delivery to specific organelles in living plants.

Keywords:  Gene technology; Nanotechnology; Peptides; Zwitterions; micelles

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202204234
Acta Biomater. 2022 Jun 02. pii: S1742-7061(22)00326-9. [Epub ahead of print]

Hypoxia-Reinforced Antitumor RNA Interference Mediated by Micelleplexes with Programmed Disintegration.

Xudong Li, Xiangnan Xu, Ke Huang, Yuchen Wu, Zhifeng Lin, Lichen Yin.

  The performance of polycation-mediated siRNA delivery is often hurdled by the multiple systemic and cellular barriers that pose conflicting requirements for materials properties. Herein, micelleplexes (MPs) capable of programmed disintegration were developed to mediate efficient delivery of siRNA against XIAP (siXIAP) in a hypoxia-reinforced manner. MPs were assembled from azobenzene-crosslinked oligoethylenimine (AO), acid-transformable diblock copolymer PPDHP with conjugated photosensitizer, and siXIAP. AO efficiently condensed siXIAP via electrostatic interaction, and PPDHP rendered additional hydrophobic interaction with AO to stabilize the MPs against salt. The hydrophilic PEG corona enhanced the serum stability of MPs to prolong blood circulation and promote tumor accumulation. After internalization into cancer cells, the endolysosomal acidity triggered shedding of PPDHP, exposing AO to induce endolysosomal escape. Then, light irradiation generated lethal amount of ROS, and concurrently aggravated intracellular hypoxia level to degrade AO into low-molecular weight segments, release siXIAP, and potentiate the XIAP silencing efficiency. Thus, siXIAP-mediated pro-apoptosis cooperated with generated ROS to provoke pronounced anti-cancer efficacy against Skov-3 tumors in vitro and in vivo. This study provides a hypoxia-instructed strategy to overcome the multiple barriers against anti-cancer siRNA delivery in a programmed manner. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : The success of RNA interference (RNAi) heavily depends on delivery systems that can enable spatiotemporal control over siRNA delivery. Herein, we developed micelleplexes (MPs) constructed from hypoxia-degradable, azobenzene-crosslinked oligoethylenimine (AO) and acid-responsive, photosensitizer-conjugated diblock copolymer PPDHP, to mediate efficient anti-tumor siRNA (siXIAP) delivery via programmed disintegration. MPs possessed high salt/serum stability and underwent acid-triggered PPDHP detachment to promote endolysosomal escape. Then, light irradiation aggravated hypoxia to trigger AO degradation and intracellular siXIAP release, which cooperated with photodynamic therapy to eradicate tumor cells. This study presents a new example of hypoxia-degradable polycation to mediate hypoxia-reinforced RNAi, and it also renders an effective strategy to overcome the complicated extracellular/intracellular barriers against systemic siRNA delivery.

Keywords:  RNA interference; hypoxia responsiveness; intracellular siRNA release; micelleplexes; photodynamic therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2022.05.050
Mol Cell. 2022 Jun 02. pii: S1097-2765(22)00383-5. [Epub ahead of print]82(11): 2148-2160.e4

A naturally DNase-free CRISPR-Cas12c enzyme silences gene expression.

Carolyn J Huang, Benjamin A Adler, Jennifer A Doudna.

  Used widely for genome editing, CRISPR-Cas enzymes provide RNA-guided immunity to microbes by targeting foreign nucleic acids for cleavage. We show here that the native activity of CRISPR-Cas12c protects bacteria from phage infection by binding to DNA targets without cleaving them, revealing that antiviral interference can be accomplished without chemical attack on the invader or general metabolic disruption in the host. Biochemical experiments demonstrate that Cas12c is a site-specific ribonuclease capable of generating mature CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) from precursor transcripts. Furthermore, we find that crRNA maturation is essential for Cas12c-mediated DNA targeting. These crRNAs direct double-stranded DNA binding by Cas12c using a mechanism that precludes DNA cutting. Nevertheless, Cas12c represses transcription and can defend bacteria against lytic bacteriophage infection when targeting an essential phage gene. Together, these results show that Cas12c employs targeted DNA binding to provide antiviral immunity in bacteria, providing a native DNase-free pathway for transient antiviral immunity.

Keywords:  CRISPR; CRISPR interference; CRISPRi; Cas12c; bacterial immunity; genome editing; pre-crRNA; sgRNA

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2022.04.020
Adv Healthc Mater. 2022 Jun 06. e2201178

Engineering CpG-ASO-Pt-loaded Macrophages (CAP@M) For Synergistic Chemo-/Gene-/Immuno-Therapy.

Yuqi Wang, Lingpu Zhang, Yan Liu, Linlin Tang, Juan He, Xiaqing Sun, Muhsin H Younis, Daxiang Cui, Haihua Xiao, Dong Gao, Xiang-Yang Kong, Weibo Cai, Jie Song.

  Adoptive cell therapy by natural cells for drug delivery has achieved encouraging progress in cancer treatment over small-molecule drugs. Macrophages have a great potential in antitumor drug delivery due to their innate capability of sensing chemotactic cues and homing toward tumors. However, major challenge in current macrophage-based cell therapy is loading macrophages with adequate amounts of therapeutic, while allowing them to play a role in immunity without compromising cell functions. Herein, we demonstrate a potent strategy to construct a macrophage-mediated drug delivery platform loaded with a nanosphere (CpG-ASO-Pt) composed of functional nucleic acid therapeutic (CpG-ASO) and chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (Pt). These CpG-ASO-Pt nanosphere loaded macrophages (CAP@M) are employed not only as carriers to deliver this nanosphere toward the tumor sites, but also simultaneously to guide the differentiation and maintain immunostimulatory effects. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have indicated that CAP@M is a promising nanomedicine by macrophage-mediated nanospheres delivery and synergistically immunostimulatory activities. Taken together, this study provides a new strategy to construct a macrophage-based drug delivery system for synergistic chemo-/gene-/immuno-therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  DNA nanobiotechnology; cell therapy; drug delivery; macrophage; synergistic therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202201178
Small. 2022 Jun 11. e2201971

Spermine-Responsive Intracellular Self-Aggregation of Gold Nanocages for Enhanced Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy of Breast Cancer.

Beibei Xie, Huichao Zhao, Mingju Shui, Yuan-Fu Ding, Chen Sun, Ziyi Wang, Cheng Gao, Guosong Chen, Ruibing Wang.

  Improving the precise accumulation and retention of nanomedicines in tumor cells is one of the keys to effective therapy of tumors. Herein, supramolecular peptides capped Au nanocages (AuNCs) that may self-aggregate into micron-sized clusters intracellularly in response to spermine (SPM), leading to specific accumulation and retention of AuNCs in SPM-overexpressed tumor cells, are developed. In this design, polydopamine (PDA) is in situ coated on the surface of AuNCs with doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulated. A small peptide, Phe-Phe-Val-Leu-Lys (FFVLK), is conjugated with PDA via esterification, and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) is threaded onto the N-terminal Phe via host-guest interactions. Once the supramolecular peptide (CB[7]-FFVLK) capped AuNCs are internalized in SPM-overexpressed breast cancer cells, CB[7] can be competitively removed from FFVLK by SPM, due to the much higher binding affinity between CB[7] and SPM than that between CB[7] and Phe, leading to exposure of free FFVLK, which can subsequently self-assemble and induce the aggregation of AuNCs to micron-sized clusters, resulting in the significantly enhanced accumulation and retention of DOX-loaded AuNCs in tumor cells. Under NIR laser irradiation, the enhanced photothermal conversion of AuNCs aggregates, together with photothermia-induced release of DOX leads to synergistic photothermal therapy and chemotherapy against breast cancer.

Keywords:  Au nanocages; cancer therapy; cucurbituril; self-aggregation; stimuli-responsive

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202201971
Adv Mater. 2022 Jun 09. e2203765

Drug in Drug: A host-guest formulation of azocalixarene with hydroxychloroquine for synergistic anti-inflammation.

Shihui Li, Rong Ma, Xin-Yue Hu, Hua-Bin Li, Wen-Chao Geng, Xianglei Kong, Chao Zhang, Dong-Sheng Guo.

  Macrocyclic delivery and therapeutics are two significant topics in supramolecular biomedicine. The functional integration of these topics would open new avenues for treating diseases synergistically. However, these two individual topics have been occasionally merged, probably because of the lack of functionalized design of macrocyclic host and the lack of efficient recognition between host and guest drugs. Herein, we proposed a "drug-in-drug" strategy in which an active drug is encapsulated by a macrocycle possessing therapeutic activity to form a multi-functional supramolecular active pharmaceutical ingredient. As a proof-of-concept, we prepared a complex of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with sulfonated azocalix[4]arene (HCQ@SAC4A) to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) combinedly. SAC4A is a therapeutic agent that exhibits scavenging capacity for reactive oxygen species and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. It is also a hypoxia-responsive carrier that could deliver HCQ directly to the inflammatory articular cavity. Consequently, HCQ@SAC4A achieved the synergistic anti-inflammatory effect on both inflamed RAW 264.7 cells and RA rats. This effect is attributed to the temporal and spatial consistency of the two active ingredients of the complex. As a new paradigm for combinational therapy, the drug-in-drug strategy advances in easy preparation, mix-and-match combination, and precise ratiometric control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  anti-inflammation; biomedical materials; combinational therapy; macrocycle; supramolecular chemistry

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202203765
Nat Biomed Eng. 2022 Jun 06.

Synthetic libraries of immune cells displaying a diverse repertoire of chimaeric antigen receptors as a potent cancer immunotherapy.

Wenyan Fu, Changhai Lei, Chuqi Wang, Zetong Ma, Tian Li, Fangxing Lin, Ruixue Mao, Jian Zhao, Shi Hu.

Cancer immunotherapies rely on one or few specific tumour-associated antigens. However, the adaptive immune system relies on a large and diverse repertoire of antibodies for antigen recognition. Here we report the development and applicability of libraries of immune cells displaying diverse repertoires of chimaeric antigen receptors (CARs) that can recognize non-self antigens and display antigen-dependent clonal expansion, with the expanded population of tumour-specific effector cells leading to long-lasting antitumour responses in mouse models of epithelial tumours. The intravenous injection of synthetic libraries of murine CARs on TET2- T cells led to robust immunological memory and the recognition of mutated or evolved tumours, owing to the maintenance of CAR diversity. Off-the-shelf libraries of 106 murine or human CAR clones displayed on genetically modified human NK-92 cancer cells completely eliminated established tumours in mice with murine xenografts and patient-derived xenografts. Synthetically generated CAR libraries may aid the discovery of new CARs and the development of immunotherapies.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-022-00895-1
Adv Mater. 2022 Jun 07. e2202882

Intracellular Crowding by Bio-Orthogonal Hydrogel Formation Induces Reversible Molecular Stasis.

Laura J Macdougall, Timothy E Hoffman, Bruce E Kirkpatrick, Benjamin D Fairbanks, Christopher N Bowman, Sabrina L Spencer, Kristi S Anseth.

  To survive extreme conditions, certain animals enter a reversible protective stasis through vitrification of the cytosol by polymeric molecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. In this work, synthetic gelation of the cytosol in living cells is used to induce reversible molecular stasis. Through the sequential lipofectamine-mediated transfection of complementary poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromers into mammalian cells, intracellular crosslinking occurs through bio-orthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) click reactions. This achieves efficient polymer uptake with minimal cell death (99% viable). Intracellular crosslinking decreases DNA replication, protein synthesis, and increases the quiescent population by 2.5-fold. Real-time tracking of single cells containing intracellular crosslinked polymers identifies increases in intermitotic time (15 versus 19 h) and decreases in motility (30 versus 15 μm/h). The cytosol viscosity increases 3-fold after intracellular crosslinking and results in disordered cytoskeletal structure in addition to the disruption of cellular coordination in a scratch assay. By incorporating photodegradable nitrobenzyl moieties into the polymer backbone, the effects of intracellular crosslinking are reversed upon exposure to light, thereby restoring proliferation (80% phospho-Rb+ cells), protein translation, and migration. Reversible intracellular crosslinking provides a novel method for dynamic manipulation of intracellular mechanics, altering essential processes that determine cellular function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  biostasis; click chemistry; hydrogel; intracellular crosslinking; poly(ethylene glycol)

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202202882
Adv Healthc Mater. 2022 Jun 07. e2201038

A cancer cell membrane-derived biomimetic nanocarrier for synergistic photothermal/gene therapy by efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and gold nanorods.

Lin Huang, Mengyang Zhou, Ghulam Abbas, Chao Li, Mengmeng Cui, Xian-En Zhang, Dian-Bing Wang.

  Bimodal synergistic therapy would produce a superadditive effect for enhanced therapeutic efficacy of cancer. However, how to efficiently and simultaneously deliver several kinds of therapeutic agents is still challenging. We herein proposed a cancer cell membrane-derived nanocarrier (mCas9-sGNRs) for synergistic photothermal/gene therapy by efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and gold nanorods (GNRs). In this approach, Cas9 proteins can be directly and efficiently loaded inside the cell membranes (mCas9) by electrostatic interactions. Similarly, sgRNAs, which target survivin, can be easily loaded onto GNRs (sGNRs) through electrostatic interactions and well encapsulated by cell membrane loading Cas9 through extrusion. As results, the biomimetic nanodelivery systems presented advantages in biocompatibility, homologous targeting capacity and loading efficiency of cargoes. In addition, significant antitumor effects have been achieved by gene editing of survivin which induced anticancer activity and reduced heat tolerance of cancer cells caused by GNRs mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) due to the downregulation of HSP70. These results indicate the nanotherapeutic platform leads to enhanced photothermal/gene therapy efficacy. Therefore, this work not only would provide a general strategy to construct a versatile nanoplatform for loading and target delivery of several therapeutic cargos but would also be valuable for photothermal/gene therapy and other bimodal synergistic therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  CRISPR/Cas9; cancer cell membrane; gene therapy; gold nanoparticles; photothermal therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202201038
Adv Mater. 2022 Jun 10. e2203792

Skin-inspired design integrates mechano-chemical-thermal robustness into superhydrophobic coatings.

Hailong Zhang, Xinyu Bu, Wanbo Li, Miaomiao Cui, Xingxiang Ji, Furong Tao, Ligang Gai, Haihui Jiang, Libin Liu, Zuankai Wang.

  Designing scalable coatings with a wide spectrum of functions such as liquid repellency, anti-corrosion and anti-flaming and a high level of mechano-chemical-thermal robustness is crucial in real life applications. However, these individual functionalities and robustness are coupled together or even have conflicting requirements on the interfacial or bulky properties of materials, and thus simultaneously integrating all these individual features into one coating has proved challenging. Herein, we propose an integral skin-inspired triple-layered coating (STC) that resolves conflicting demands imposed by individual features on the structural, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of materials. Specifically, the rational design of multiple gradients in roughness, wetting, strength and flame retardancy and the formation of continuous interfaces along its triple layers endow a sustained liquid repellency, anti-corrosion and flame retardancy even under harsh environments, as well as strong anti-abrasion on surfaces and adhesion with substrate. Such an all-in-one design enhances the durability and lifetime of coatings and reduces the maintenance and repair, thereby contributing to cost and energy saving. Together with facile spraying fabrication process, our STC provides a feasible and sustainable strategy for constructing energy and resource-saving materials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  coating; robustness; skin-inspired triple-layer; spraying; superhydrophobicity

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202203792
ACS Nano. 2022 Jun 09.

Live Macrophage-Delivered Doxorubicin-Loaded Liposomes Effectively Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Lan Yang, Yongshun Zhang, Yu Zhang, Yani Xu, Yuai Li, Zhiqiang Xie, Hairui Wang, Yunzhu Lin, Qing Lin, Tao Gong, Xun Sun, Zhirong Zhang, Ling Zhang.

  Triple-negative breast cancer is often aggressive and resistant to various cancer therapies, especially corresponding targeted drugs. It is shown that targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor sites could enhance treatment outcome against triple-negative breast cancer. In this study, we exploited the active tumor-targeting capability of macrophages by loading doxorubicin-carrying liposomes on their surfaces via biotin-avidin interactions. Compared with conventional liposomes, this macrophage-liposome (MA-Lip) system further increased doxorubicin accumulation in tumor sites, penetrated deeper into tumor tissue, and enhanced antitumor immune response. As a result, the MA-Lip system significantly lengthened the survival rate of 4T1 cell-bearing mice with low toxicity. Besides, the MA-Lip system used highly biocompatible and widely approved materials, which ensured its long-term safety. This study provides a system for triple-negative breast cancer treatment and offers another macrophage-based strategy for tumor delivery.

Keywords:  biotin; drug delivery; liposomes; macrophages; streptavidin; triple-negative breast cancer

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c03573
Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 09. 13(1): 3222

Mechanically active integrins target lytic secretion at the immune synapse to facilitate cellular cytotoxicity.

Mitchell S Wang, Yuesong Hu, Elisa E Sanchez, Xihe Xie, Nathan H Roy, Miguel de Jesus, Benjamin Y Winer, Elizabeth A Zale, Weiyang Jin, Chirag Sachar, Joanne H Lee, Yeonsun Hong, Minsoo Kim, Lance C Kam, Khalid Salaita, Morgan Huse.

Cytotoxic lymphocytes fight pathogens and cancer by forming immune synapses with infected or transformed target cells and then secreting cytotoxic perforin and granzyme into the synaptic space, with potent and specific killing achieved by this focused delivery. The mechanisms that establish the precise location of secretory events, however, remain poorly understood. Here we use single cell biophysical measurements, micropatterning, and functional assays to demonstrate that localized mechanotransduction helps define the position of secretory events within the synapse. Ligand-bound integrins, predominantly the αLβ2 isoform LFA-1, function as spatial cues to attract lytic granules containing perforin and granzyme and induce their fusion with the plasma membrane for content release. LFA-1 is subjected to pulling forces within secretory domains, and disruption of these forces via depletion of the adaptor molecule talin abrogates cytotoxicity. We thus conclude that lymphocytes employ an integrin-dependent mechanical checkpoint to enhance their cytotoxic power and fidelity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30809-3
Sci Transl Med. 2022 Jun 08. 14(648): eabh1261

Delivery of an ectonucleotidase inhibitor with ROS-responsive nanoparticles overcomes adenosine-mediated cancer immunosuppression.

Chengqiong Mao, Stacy Yeh, Juan Fu, Mercedes Porosnicu, Alexandra Thomas, Gregory L Kucera, Konstantinos I Votanopoulos, Shaomin Tian, Xin Ming.

Tumor evasion of immune destruction is associated with the production of immunosuppressive adenosine in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Anticancer therapies can trigger adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from tumor cells, causing rapid formation of adenosine by the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73, thereafter exacerbating immunosuppression in the TME. The goal of this study was to develop an approach to facilitate cancer therapy-induced immunogenic cell death including ATP release and to limit ATP degradation into adenosine, in order to achieve durable antitumor immune response. Our approach was to construct reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing nanoparticles that carry an ectonucleotidase inhibitor ARL67156 by electronic interaction and phenylboronic ester. Upon near-infrared irradiation, nanoparticle-produced ROS induced ATP release from MOC1 cancer cells in vitro and triggered the cleavage of phenylboronic ester, facilitating the release of ARL67156 from the nanoparticles. ARL67156 prevented conversion of ATP to adenosine and enhanced anticancer immunity in an MOC1-based coculture model. We tested this approach in mouse tumor models. Nanoparticle-based ROS-responsive drug delivery reprogramed the immunogenic landscape in tumors, eliciting tumor-specific T cell responses and tumor regression, conferring long-term survival in mouse models. We demonstrated that TME reprograming sets the stage for response to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) immunotherapy, and the combination resulted in tumor regression in a 4T1 breast cancer mouse model that was resistant to PD1 blockade. Furthermore, our approach also induced immunological effects in patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroid model, suggesting potential translation of our nanoparticle approach for treating human cancers.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abh1261
Nat Chem. 2022 Jun;14(6): 600-613

Dissipative DNA nanotechnology.

Erica Del Grosso, Elisa Franco, Leonard J Prins, Francesco Ricci.

DNA nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool to precisely design and control molecular circuits, machines and nanostructures. A major goal in this field is to build devices with life-like properties, such as directional motion, transport, communication and adaptation. Here we provide an overview of the nascent field of dissipative DNA nanotechnology, which aims at developing life-like systems by combining programmable nucleic-acid reactions with energy-dissipating processes. We first delineate the notions, terminology and characteristic features of dissipative DNA-based systems and then we survey DNA-based circuits, devices and materials whose functions are controlled by chemical fuels. We emphasize how energy consumption enables these systems to perform work and cyclical tasks, in contrast with DNA devices that operate without dissipative processes. The ability to take advantage of chemical fuel molecules brings dissipative DNA systems closer to the active molecular devices that exist in nature.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-022-00957-6
Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 06. 13(1): 3250

Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination alone and as a heterologous booster against SARS-CoV-2.

Zhenhao Fang, Lei Peng, Renata Filler, Kazushi Suzuki, Andrew McNamara, Qianqian Lin, Paul A Renauer, Luojia Yang, Bridget Menasche, Angie Sanchez, Ping Ren, Qiancheng Xiong, Madison Strine, Paul Clark, Chenxiang Lin, Albert I Ko, Nathan D Grubaugh, Craig B Wilen, Sidi Chen.

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 recently swept the globe and showed high level of immune evasion. Here, we generate an Omicron-specific lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mRNA vaccine candidate, and test its activity in animals, both alone and as a heterologous booster to WT mRNA vaccine. Our Omicron-specific LNP-mRNA vaccine elicits strong antibody response in vaccination-naïve mice. Mice that received two-dose WT LNP-mRNA show a > 40-fold reduction in neutralization potency against Omicron than WT two weeks post boost, which further reduce to background level after 3 months. The WT or Omicron LNP-mRNA booster increases the waning antibody response of WT LNP-mRNA vaccinated mice against Omicron by 40 fold at two weeks post injection. Interestingly, the heterologous Omicron booster elicits neutralizing titers 10-20 fold higher than the homologous WT booster against Omicron variant, with comparable titers against Delta variant. All three types of vaccination, including Omicron alone, WT booster and Omicron booster, elicit broad binding antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 WA-1, Beta, Delta variants and SARS-CoV. These data provide direct assessments of an Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination in vivo, both alone and as a heterologous booster to WT mRNA vaccine.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30878-4
Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 03. 13(1): 3101

Unraveling function and diversity of bacterial lectins in the human microbiome.

Louis J Cohen, Sun M Han, Pearson Lau, Daniela Guisado, Yupu Liang, Toshiki G Nakashige, Thamina Ali, David Chiang, Adeeb Rahman, Sean F Brady.

The mechanisms by which commensal organisms affect human physiology remain poorly understood. Lectins are non-enzymatic carbohydrate binding proteins that all organisms employ as part of establishing a niche, evading host-defenses and protecting against pathogens. Although lectins have been extensively studied in plants, bacterial pathogens and human immune cells for their role in disease pathophysiology and as therapeutics, the role of bacterial lectins in the human microbiome is largely unexplored. Here we report on the characterization of a lectin produced by a common human associated bacterium that interacts with myeloid cells in the blood and intestine. In mouse and cell-based models, we demonstrate that this lectin induces distinct immunologic responses in peripheral and intestinal leukocytes and that these responses are specific to monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Our analysis of human microbiota sequencing data reveal thousands of unique sequences that are predicted to encode lectins, many of which are highly prevalent in the human microbiome yet completely uncharacterized. Based on the varied domain architectures of these lectins we predict they will have diverse effects on the human host. The systematic investigation of lectins in the human microbiome should improve our understanding of human health and provide new therapeutic opportunities.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29949-3