Myxoma virus expressing human interleukin-12 does not induce myxomatosis in European rabbits.
Myxoma virus (MV) is a candidate for oncolytic virotherapy due to its ability to selectively infect and kill tumor cells, yet MV is a species-specific pathogen that causes disease only in European rabbits. To assess the ability of MV to deliver cytokines to tumors, we created an MV (vMyxIL-12) that expresses human interleukin-12 (IL-12). vMyxIL-12 replicates similarly to wild-type MV, and virus-infected cells secrete bioactive IL-12. Yet, vMyxIL-12 does not cause myxomatosis, despite expressing the complete repertoire of MV proteins. Thus, vMyxIL-12 exhibits promise as an oncolytic candidate and is safe in all known vertebrate hosts, including lagomorphs.
Stanford
Marianne M
MM
Biotherapeutics Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ONT, Canada.
Barrett
John W
JW
Gilbert
Philippe-Alexandre
PA
Bankert
Richard
R
McFadden
Grant
G
D000818:Animals; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits
D018664:Interleukin-12