Immune activation for solid tumor treatment using genetically engineered salmonella
Innovative therapy using Salmonella VNP20009 derivatives to enhance immune response in solid tumors, combining bacterial-based and CAR-cell immunotherapy for improved tumor destruction.
Overview
This technology introduces a novel approach to treating immunologically cold solid tumors by leveraging genetically engineered strains of Salmonella Typhimurium VNP20009. These strains express recombinant methioninase and TNFalpha, which selectively amplify within tumor tissues. The combination of this bacteria-based therapy with CAR-cell immunotherapy, including CAR-T cells and CAR-Macrophages, aims to activate both innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to rapid tumor destruction.
Technical specifications
- Genetically engineered Salmonella VNP20009: Modified to express methioninase and TNFalpha, targeting tumor tissues to enhance immune response.
- Combinational therapy: Utilizes bacteria to induce CAR-T cell and CAR-Macrophage infiltration, modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.
- Preliminary results: Demonstrated activation of immune responses and rapid tumor destruction in murine models using Diffusion Weighted MRI (DWI).
- Applications: Potential treatment for various immunologically cold solid tumors, such as breast cancer and lung carcinoma.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated in laboratory settings using murine tumor models. Further validation is planned to enhance the efficacy of the therapy in clinical settings.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, anchored by a large residential campus. Industry engages through co‑located core facilities, pilot‑scale testbeds, and an adjacent innovation district that brings together labs, corporate R&D space, and maker resources near faculty talent. A statewide Extension network and an established engineering co‑op program connect companies to field sites, workforce pipelines, and pragmatic pathways from concept to deployment across Indiana. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from NSF, DOE, USDA, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and commercialization is managed by a dedicated technology transfer office in partnership with the university’s affiliated research foundation.
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