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EBV Technologies and Services
Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) is
a member of the family
herpesviruses.
Almost anyone of us harbors the virus, normally without any clinical
symptoms. EBV is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis
("mono") and is also associated with different types of human cancer
(nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin disease). EBV is
also a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised
hosts
after solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. EBV is also the only
known virus capable of infecting human B lymphocytes. Upon infection,
these immune cells are immortalized by the virus and turned into
powerful professional antigen presenting cells (APC).
B
cell tropism and certain other biological features are unique to EBV
and
make the virus an interesting gene delivery system. However, due to the
size of its genome, the virus has long been inaccessible to genetic
manipulation. Only recently, a revolutionary genetic system, invented
by the founders of Vaecgene, has made EBV a valuable tool for
biomedicine. Today, Vaecgene is the only company in the world with the
technical knowhow and exclusive licences to use EBV-derived plasmids
for therapy. The first step to use EBV as a vector system was the
establishment of a sytem that allows its genetic manipulation. Applying
these newly established techniques and methods, we generated the first
packaging cell line for herpesvirus vectors that can package DNA up to
180kb in size into a viral particle to transduce any gene(s) into B
cells of normal or oncogenic human origin.
We offer to our customers the
following services relying on our
expertise in handling EBV and its derivatives:
Generation of EBV-immortalized human B
Cell Lines (LCLs)
EBV-immortalized B cell
lines (LCLs) are a valuable permanent source
for almost unlimited amounts of DNA from almost any individual, like it
is required for epidemiological and hereditary studies. Whenever
desired, we can establish LCLs (or DNA isolated therefrom)
from a small amount of peripheral blood derived from any donor.
In detail, we provide the following services:
• Generation of LCLs from
any donor
• Isolation of cellular DNA from primary cells and LCLs
• Isolation and cryopreservation of plasma
• Quantification of
EBV-infected cells
Please
inquire for further information.
B
cell Lines for Sustained Antigen Expression
EBV immortalized B cell
lines (LCLs) are powerful antigen presenting
cells. With respect to stimulation of specific T lymphocytes, they are
comparable to dendritic cells (DCs). In contrast to DCs, they are of
clonal origin and permanently available at almost infinite numbers. Our
EBV technology allows immortalization of human B cells and simultaneous
and sustained expression of distinct proteins like tumour antigens,
cytokins, costimulatory molecules etc.
Simply incubate primary B-cells from any donor with our
EBV
supernatants and get immortalized B-cell lines presenting the protein
of
interest. So far, we have virus stocks available for EpCAM, pp65, HPV
6,
11, 16 (E6, E7, L1), her2/neu, IE1, B95.8 (control). Additionally, we
offer custom cloning of your gene of interest into our
immortalization/presentation vectors.
Please
inquire for further information.
Human B cells (both
primary cells and cell lines) are extremly
recalcitrant to transfection by chemical or physical means. We rely on
the natural tropism of Epstein Barr-Virus to transport plasmids with
high efficiency into these cells. Based on the human cell line HEK293,
we have generated the first (patent-protected) packaging system for
Herpesviruses, that allows the production of recombinant infectious EBV
particles. Packageable plasmids are:
- mini-EBVs:
- these plasmids carry all viral genes that
are
necessary for the immortalization of human B-cells, a feature that is
unique to EBV. Introduce your gene of interest (GOI) onto a mini-EBV in
order to generate B cell lines that combine permanent growth with
sustained expression of the GOI.
- micro-EBVs:
- contain all viral elements for packaging and
CMV-driven
expression of the GOI in human B cells. Contain hygromycin or neomycin
resistance for selection.
Please inquire for
further information.
Generation of Antigen specific
human T Lymphocytes
MiniLCLs are mini-EBV
infected antigen-presenting cell lines that
efficiently induce specific T cell responses in vitro. Established
easily from any donor, miniLCLs constitute a versatile system for the
generation of large numbers of T cytotoxic lymphocytes for adoptive
cell therapies. We have constructed mini-EBVs for the treatment of the
following clinical conditions: Cell
mediated immunity is an essential host factor in the control of most
diseases, but cancer patients and patients receiving immunosuppression
suffer from a defective immune system, unable to mount a
tumour-specific
immune response. Outside help may come in the form of adoptive transfer
of specific T cells to establish immunity, which is an effective
therapy for viral infections and malignancies
- CMV Disease
- CMV is a major clinical problem in
immunocompromised patients and responsible for significant morbidity
and mortality. Current treatment of CMV disease includes the
administration of Gancyclovir and T cell preparations in vitro since
adoptive therapy with such preparations may be of great clinical
benefit.
- Carcinoma, EBV-associated
Lymphoma
-
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