Nucleocapsid as a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Multiple new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have emerged globally, due to viral mutation. The majority of COVID-19 vaccines contain SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is susceptible to mutation. It is known that protection against COVID-19 after two doses of mRNA vaccine continuously wanes over time. If viral variants contain mutated spike protein, current vaccines may not provide robust protection. This perspective suggests the inclusion of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in future COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as nucleocapsid is much less vulnerable to mutation and may provide stronger immunity to novel viral variants.

COVID-19 and cancer: A guide with suggested COVID-19 rule-out criteria to support clinical decision-making.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious zoonotic pathogen that has exacted heavy public health, social and economic tolls. In February 2020, the World Health Organization acronymed the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 as COVID-19, for coronavirus disease 2019. The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections, which has been detected in at least 103 countries, has reached 1,970,225 worldwide as of April 14, 2020 with 124,544 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many cases of COVID-19 resolve quickly. However, the disease, which, like other respiratory pathogens that cause common cold symptoms is believed to be transmitted through respiratory droplets. Infection with COVID-19 can also lead to significant morbidity and death; this is particularly the case for cancer patients. Moreover, because the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are easily misattributed to the sequelae of cancer itself, such as pulmonary embolism, or its treatment, such as nausea and diarrhea, diagnosis may be delayed or missed. Potential COVID-19 rule out criteria, based on the Wells' criteria for pulmonary embolism, another protean disease entity, are provided as a decision-making aid. This review summarizes the current understanding of the transmission, clinical presentation, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, pathogenesis, rationale to treat the cancer or not, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 with an emphasis on implications in cancer.

A practical guide to the handling and administration of personalized transcriptionally attenuated oncolytic adenoviruses (PTAVs).

The aim of this review is to provide practical information on the handling, storage, and administration procedures for personalized oncolytic adenoviruses (PTAVs), which have recently entered clinical trials. As described herein, personalized oncolytic viruses refer to transcriptionally attenuated (TA) type 5 adenoviruses that are engineered to carry one or more neoantigenic transgenes derived from patient tumors. Vials of personalized viruses should be stored at -60°C without refreezing after thawing to maintain infectivity. To prevent accidental exposure and transmission, full implementation of universal precautions for preparation, administration, and handling is required. Contaminated materials that come into contact with personalized viruses should be properly disposed of in accordance with local institutional procedures. Severely immunocompromised or pregnant healthcare workers should not prepare or administer personalized viruses or directly contact injection sites. Personalized viruses are administered subcutaneously and intratumorally; however, only subcutaneous injection will be considered in this review. The specific storage, handling, administration, and safety requirements for personalized viruses are easily managed in the context of a clinical trial following the directives from the study protocol.

Encapsulation of adenovirus serotype 5 in anionic lecithin liposomes using a bead-based immunoprecipitation technique enhances transfection efficiency.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) constitute a promising class of cancer therapeutics which exploit validated genetic pathways known to be deregulated in many cancers. To overcome an immune response and to enhance its potential use to treat primary and metastatic tumors, a method for liposomal encapsulation of adenovirus has been developed. The encapsulation of adenovirus in non-toxic anionic lecithin-cholesterol-PEG liposomes ranging from 140 to 180 nm in diameter have been prepared by self-assembly around the viral capsid. The encapsulated viruses retain their ability to infect cancer cells. Furthermore, an immunoprecipitation (IP) technique has shown to be a fast and effective method to extract non-encapsulated viruses and homogenize the liposomes remaining in solution. 78% of adenovirus plaque forming units were encapsulated and retained infectivity after IP processing. Additionally, encapsulated viruses have shown enhanced transfection efficiency up to 4 × higher compared to non-encapsulated Ads. Extracting non-encapsulated viruses from solution may prevent an adverse in vivo immune response and may enhance treatment for multiple administrations.