Determinants of penetrance and variable expressivity in monogenic metabolic conditions across 77,184 exomes

Penetrance of variants in monogenic disease and clinical utility of common polygenic variation has not been well explored on a large-scale. Here, the authors use exome sequencing data from 77,184 individuals to generate penetrance estimates and assess the utility of polygenic variation in risk prediction of monogenic variants

The genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes

The genetic architecture of common traits, including the number, frequency, and effect sizes of inherited variants that contribute to individual risk, has been long debated. Genome-wide association studies have identified scores of common variants associated with type 2 diabetes, but in aggregate, these explain only a fraction of heritability. To test the hypothesis that lower-frequency variants explain much of the remainder, the GoT2D and T2D-GENES consortia performed whole genome sequencing in 2,657 Europeans with and without diabetes, and exome sequencing in a total of 12,940 subjects from five ancestral groups. To increase statistical power, we expanded sample size via genotyping and imputation in a further 111,548 subjects. Variants associated with type 2 diabetes after sequencing were overwhelmingly common and most fell within regions previously identified by genome-wide association studies. Comprehensive enumeration of sequence variation is necessary to identify functional alleles that provide important clues to disease pathophysiology, but large-scale sequencing does not support a major role for lower-frequency variants in predisposition to type 2 diabetes

The Development and Characterization of an scFv-Fc Fusion-Based Gene Therapy to Reduce the Psychostimulant Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse

Methamphetamine (METH) continues to be among the most addictive and abused drugs in the United States. Unfortunately, there are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacological treatments for METH-use disorder. We have previously explored the use of adeno-associated viral (AAV)-mediated gene transfer of an anti-METH monoclonal antibody. Here, we advance our approach by generating a novel anti-METH single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-Fc fusion construct (termed 7F9-Fc) packaged into AAV serotype 8 vector (called AAV-scFv-Fc) and tested in vivo and ex vivo. A range of doses [1 × 10 , 1 × 10 , and 1 × 10 vector copies (vcs)/mouse] were administered to mice, eliciting a dose-dependent expression of 7F9-Fc in serum with peak circulating concentrations of 48, 1785, and 3831 µg/ml, respectively. Expressed 7F9-Fc exhibited high-affinity METH binding, IC = 17 nM. Between days 21 and 35 after vector administration, at both 1 × 10 vc/mouse and 1 × 10 vc/mouse doses, the AAV-7F9-Fc gene therapy significantly decreased the potency of METH in locomotor assays. On day 116 post-AAV administration, mice expressing 7F9-Fc sequestered over 2.5 times more METH in the serum than vehicle-treated mice, and METH concentrations in the brain were reduced by 1.2 times the value for vehicle mice. These data suggest that an AAV-delivered anti-METH Fc fusion antibody could be used to persistently reduce concentrations of METH in the central nervous system. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this manuscript, we describe the testing of a novel antimethamphetamine (METH) single-chain variable fragment-Fc fusion protein delivered in mice using gene therapy. The results suggest that the gene therapy delivery system can lead to the production of significant antibody concentrations that mitigate METH's psychostimulant effects in mice over an extended time period

The development and characterization of an scFv-Fc fusion based gene therapy to reduce the psychostimulant effects of methamphetamine abuse

Abstract Methamphetamine (METH) continues to be amongst the most addictive and abused drugs in the US. Unfortunately, there are currently no FDA approved pharmacological treatments for METH substance abuse disorder. As an alternative approach, we have previously explored the use of Adeno-associated viral (AAV) mediated gene transfer of an anti-METH monoclonal antibody. Here, we advance our approach by generating a novel anti-METH scFv-Fc fusion construct (7F9-Fc), packaged into AAV serotype 8 vector (called AAV-scFv-Fc), and tested in vivo and ex vivo. A range of doses (1 × 10 10 . 1 × 10 11 , and 1 × 10 12 vector copies(vc)/mouse) were administered to mice, which exhibited a dose-dependent expression of 7F9-Fc in serum with peak circulating concentrations of 48, 1785, and 3,831 μg/ml. The dose of 1 × 10 12 vc/mouse was further tested in METH locomotor and biodistribution studies to determine the efficacy of the antibody protection. Expressed 7F9-Fc exhibited high affinity binding, 17 nM, to METH. Between days 21 and 35 after vector administration, the 7F9-Fc gene therapy significantly reduced the effects of METH in locomotor assays following administration of moderate and high doses of subcutaneous METH, 3.1 and 9.4 mg/kg respectively. On day 116 post-AAV administration, mice expressing 7F9-Fc sequestered over 2.5 times more METH into the serum than vehicle mice, and METH concentrations in the brain were reduced by 1.2 times compared to vehicle mice. Taken together, these data suggest that a AAV-delivered anti-METH Fc fusion antibody could be a design for persistently reducing concentrations of METH in the CNS. Significance Statement In this manuscript, we describe the use of a novel anti-METH scFv-Fc fusion protein delivered in mice using gene therapy. The results suggest that the gene therapy delivery system can lead to the production of enough antibody to mitigate METH’s psychostimulant effects in mice over an extended time period

Vaccine-induced T cells Provide Partial Protection Against High-dose Rectal SIVmac239 Challenge of Rhesus Macaques

Despite enormous efforts by the scientific community, an effective HIV vaccine remains elusive. To further address to what degree T cells in absence of antibodies may protect against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) disease progression, rhesus macaques were vaccinated intramuscularly with a chimpanzee-derived Ad vector (AdC) serotype 6 and then boosted intramuscularly with a serologically distinct AdC vector of serotype 7 both expressing Gag of SIVmac239. Animals were subsequently boosted intramuscularly with a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus expressing Gag and Tat of the homologous SIV before mucosal challenge with a high dose of SIVmac239 given rectally. Whereas vaccinated animals showed only a modest reduction of viral loads, their overall survival was improved, in association with a substantial protection from the loss of CD4+ T cells. In addition, the two vaccinated Mamu-A*01+ macaques controlled viral loads to levels below detection within weeks after challenge. These data strongly suggest that T cells, while unable to affect SIV acquisition upon high-dose rectal infection, can reduce disease progression. Induction of potent T-cell responses should thus remain a component of our efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine to HIV-1