Exploration of gene therapy strategies for immunomodulation using xenograft mice models challenged with human tumors

• Grant number: 19/15049-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Human and Medical Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
• Grantee: Gabriel Correia Lima
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer is based on the use of models for evaluation and confirmation of the biological effect. Cell culture assays can provide proofs of concept that warrant testing in more complex biological systems, such as using animal models. In the field of cancer immunotherapy, where the aim is to potentiate cells of the immune system to detect and eliminate tumor cells, the use of immunocompetent animals challenged with syngeneic tumors is a very informative tool to validate the functionality of a strategy for in vivo use. With the development of a strategy for immunotherapy in humans, it is necessary to develop closer models in which to explore interactions between human leukocytes and human tumor cells. The use of humanized xerographic animal models in this context can be an interesting study tool that allows validating the adaptation of therapeutic approaches and their efficiency in an in vivo system. In this project we plan to explore the use of humanized xerographic animal models to verify the effect of the combination of antitumor vaccines previously developed by our group and tested in syngeneic mice. Additionally we also plan to verify the additive effect of viral vectors for targeted inhibition of human regulatory T cells.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PERONI, LUIS A.; TOSCARO, JESSICA M.; CANATELI, CAMILA; TONOLI, CELISA C. C.; DE OLIVERA, RENATA R.; BENEDETTI, CELSO E.; COIMBRA, LAIS D.; PEREIRA, ALEXANDRE BORIN; MARQUES, RAFAEL E.; PROENCA-MODENA, JOSE L.; et al. Serological Testing for COVID-19, Immunological Surveillance, and Exploration of Protective Antibodies. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 12, AUG 19 2021. (19/04458-8, 19/15049-1)