Engineered Mesenchymal Cells Improve Passive Immune Protection Against Lethal Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Exposure.

ABSTRACT:

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: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being exploited as gene delivery vectors for various disease and injury therapies. We provide proof-of-concept that engineered MSCs can provide a useful, effective platform for protection against infectious disease. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen affecting humans and equines and can be used in bio-warfare. No licensed vaccine or antiviral agent currently exists to combat VEEV infection in humans. Direct antibody administration (passive immunity) is an effective, but short-lived, method of providing immediate protection against a pathogen. We compared the protective efficacy of human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs; a rich source of MSCs), engineered with a transgene encoding a hum

SUBMITTER: Braid LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4954456 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature