The Human Immune System Engineering Revolution

Posted: 7/22/2019  Updated: 7/23/2019

This is a very exciting and very promising revolution! Expect much more to come!

Here is one of the latest iterations. Previously, Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cells were successfully engineered (S2). Now, B cells are next! Personalized medicine becomes reality!

“The latest group to do so has successfully modified human and mouse B cells to express antibodies targeting HIV, EBV [Epstein-Barr virus], influenza, and RSV [Respiratory Syncytial Virus]. The researchers also demonstrate that the engineered B cells protect against RSV in a mouse model of infection. ” (S1, emphasis added)

“... we developed a genetic engineering strategy in which CRISPR-Cas9 was used to replace endogenously encoded antibodies with antibodies targeting RSV, HIV, influenza virus, or EBV in primary human B cells. The engineered antibodies were expressed efficiently in primary B cells under the control of endogenous regulatory elements, which maintained normal antibody expression and secretion. Using engineered mouse B cells, we demonstrated that a single transfer of B cells engineered to express an antibody against RSV resulted in potent and durable protection against RSV infection in RAG1-deficient mice. This approach offers the opportunity to achieve sterilizing immunity against pathogens for which traditional vaccination has failed to induce or maintain protective antibody responses.” (S3, emphasis added)

“... scientists have successfully re-engineered human B cells to produce antibodies that can neutralize, or disable, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The technique they describe could one day be used to generate new, broadly acting vaccines or therapies against not only HIV but other pathogens such as influenza and hepatitis.” (S4; emphasis added)

As more of these engineered immunotherapies are developed, the cost of these novel therapies will most likely come down significantly from its current very high levels. “... personalized CAR T-cell therapies are already thought to cost close to $500,000.” (S1)

Sources (S):

1. CRISPRed B Cells Produce Antibodies Against Hard-to-Treat Viruses (5/17/19)
2. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (N/A)
3. B cells engineered to express pathogen-specific antibodies protect against infection (5/17/19)
4. Engineered immune cells produce antibodies to fight HIV Cells removed from patients’ bloodstreams and genetically altered may allow more effective vaccines for HIV, influenza, hepatitis (2/19/19)