RETROVIRAL PARTICLE COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO ENCAPSIDATED NONVIRAL RNAS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retro viral system for the transfer of non-viral RNA into target cells and more particularly a retroviral particle capable of delivering multiple RNAs. More particularly, it relates to retroviral particles comprising a protein derived from the Gag polyprotein, an envelope protein, optionally an integrase and at least two encapsidated non-viral RNAs, the encapsidated non-viral RNAs each comprising an RNA sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, each encapsidation sequence being recognised by a binding domain introduced into the protein derived from the Gag polyprotein and/or into the integrase.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a retroviral particle, comprising a step of co-transfecting producer cells with: (i) an expression plasmid comprising DNA coding for at least two different, non-viral RNA sequences, each RNA sequence comprising a sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, wherein the encapsidation sequence is either upstream or downstream of each of the sequence of interest, (ii) an encapsidation plasmid coding for a protein from a Gag polyprotein and optionally an integrase, said protein and/or integrase being chimeric as it comprises an heterologous binding domain enabling each encapsidation sequence to be recognized, and (iii) an envelope plasmid coding for an envelope protein, culturing the transfected cells to produce a supernatant comprising the particle and harvesting the supernatant thus manufacturing the particle.

2. A method of manufacturing a retroviral particle, comprising a step of co-transfecting producer cells with: (i) an expression plasmid comprising DNA coding for at least two different, non-viral RNA sequences, each RNA sequence comprising a sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, wherein the encapsidation sequence is either upstream or downstream of each of the sequence of interest, or alternatively a first and a second expression plasmid each comprising DNA coding for one of at least two different, non-viral RNA sequences, each RNA sequence comprising a sequence of interest linked to an encapsidation sequence, wherein the encapsidation sequence is either upstream or downstream of each of the sequence of interest, (ii) an encapsidation plasmid coding for a nucleocapsid protein, which is chimeric, as it comprises an heterologous binding domain making it possible to recognize each encapsidation sequence, and (iii) an envelope plasmid coding for an envelope protein, culturing the transfected cells to produce a supernatant comprising the particle and harvesting the supernatant thus manufacturing the particle.

3. The method of manufacturing the particle according to claim 2, wherein the sequences of interest are different and the encapsidation sequences are identical.

4. The method of manufacturing the particle according to claim 1, further comprising a step of clarifying the supernatant from the cell culture of the transfected cells.

5. The method of manufacturing the particle according to claim 4, further comprising a step of concentrating and/or purifying the supernatant from the cell culture of the transfected cells.

6. In a method for transducing cells with a retroviral particle, comprising transducing cells in vitro or ex vivo with a retroviral particle, the improvement wherein the retroviral particle is the retroviral particle of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0250] The invention will be better understood in the light of the following examples given by way of illustration, with reference to the drawings, which respectively represent.

[0251] Figure I is a diagram illustrating the modification of the lentiviral encapsidation plasmid p8.74 in order to insert a binding domain into the integrase sequence, this encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0252] Figure II presents different diagrams for expression plasmid constructions bearing, as RNA sequence of interest, luciferase (Fig. IIa), a fluorescent reporter (Fig. IIb) or CRE (Fig. IIc), these expression plasmids being used for the production of MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0253] Figure III presents a diagram illustrating the modification of the lentiviral encapsidation plasmid p8.74 in order to insert an MS2 Coat binding domain into the nucleocapsid sequence (IIIa), and the plasmid construction resulting therefrom (IIIb), this encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0254] Figure IV is a diagram of envelope plasmid construction;

[0255] Figure V presents different diagrams of integrating lentiviral expression plasmid constructions bearing, as sequence of interest, luciferase (Fig. Va), a fluorescent reporter (Fig. Vb) or CRE (Fig. Vc);

[0256] Figure VI is a diagram of construction of an encapsidation plasmid, this encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of integrating lentiviral vectors (ILVs);

[0257] Figure VII is a diagram of construction of an encapsidation plasmid, this encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of integration-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLVs);

[0258] Figure VIII illustrates the expression kinetics for ZsGreenl in HCT116 cells transduced by lentiviral vectors (ILV, IDLV) and MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0259] Figure IX illustrates the expression kinetics of luciferase in HCT116 cells transduced by lentiviral vectors (ILV, IDLV) and MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention and which were transfected by a luciferase expression plasmid (pLuc);

[0260] Figure X illustrates the dose effect of the luciferase expression after transduction of Foreskin fibroblasts by ILV vectors and MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0261] Figure XI illustrates the impact of purity (production with or without serum) of a composition of MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention, on the transduction of Foreskin fibroblasts;

[0262] Figure XII illustrates the impact of purity (production with or without serum) of a composition of MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention, on the transduction of HCT116 cells;

[0263] Figure XIII illustrates the impact of the presence of BX795 at the time of transduction of Foreskin fibroblasts by MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention and ILV vectors;

[0264] Figure XIV illustrates the impact of the presence of BX795 at the time of transduction of BX795 cells by MS2RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention and ILV vectors;

[0265] Figures XV, XVI and XVII illustrate the expression kinetics of luciferase by bioluminescence in vivo, in mice, after injection of a suspension, whether or not purified, of MS2RLP particles according to the invention and of a purified suspension of ILV vectors, Figure XV presents photographs of each animal at given times, Figures XVI and XVII being graphs representing the measurements of luciferase expression, at those times;

[0266] Figure XVIII is a diagram illustrating the extinction of fluorescence in HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells transduced with ILV vectors or MS2RLP particles according to the invention or transfected with pCre plasmids, enabling the expression of Cre recombinase;

[0267] Figure XIX is a diagram illustrating the quantification of the number of copies of Cre DNA in the HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells after transduction by ILV vectors or MS2RLP particles according to the invention or transfected with pCre plasmids;

[0268] Figure XX illustrates the transfer kinetics of several RNAs (RNAs ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP) in HCT116 cells with MS2RLP particles according to the invention;

[0269] Figure XXI presents a comparison of the transfer kinetics of several RNAs (RNAs ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP) in HCT116 cells with MS2RLP particles according to the invention or IDLV vectors;

[0270] Figure XXII illustrates the transfer kinetics of several RNAs (RNAs ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP) in HCT116 cells with ILV integrating vectors;

[0271] Figure XXIII illustrates the impact of the method for production of MS2(NC)-RLP-12× ZsGreenl particles in HCT116 cells at 48h post-transfection;

[0272] Figure XXIV presents the diagram of the expression plasmid bearing, as RNA sequence of interest, the luciferase used for the production of MS2 (NC)-RLP 2× lentiviral particles, comprising the MS2 stem-loop motif repeated 2 times, according to the invention;

[0273] Figure XXV presents the diagram of the expression plasmid bearing, as RNA sequence of interest, the luciferase used for the production of MS2 (NC)-RLP 6× lentiviral particles, comprising the MS2 stem-loop motif repeated 6 times, according to the invention;

[0274] Figure XXVI presents the diagram of the expression plasmid bearing, as RNA sequence of interest, the luciferase used for the production of MS2RLP lentiviral particles, comprising the MS2 stem-loop motif repeated 12 times, according to the invention;

[0275] Figure XXVII illustrates the transfer kinetics of Luciferase RNA in HCT116 cells transduced by MS2 (NC)-RLP-Luc lentiviral particles, comprising the MS2 stem-loop motif repeated 2 times, 6 times or 12 times, according to the invention, at a dose of 10 pg p24/cell;

[0276] Figure XXVIII presents a diagram of the encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of MS2 (IN)-RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention, obtained by the modification of the p8.74 lentiviral encapsidation plasmid in order to insert a binding domain in the Integrase sequence as described in Figure I;

[0277] Figure XXIX illustrates the transfer kinetics of Luciferase RNA in HCT116 cells transduced by MS2 (IN)-RLP-Luc lentiviral particles, comprising the MS2 stem-loop motif repeated 2 times, 6 times or 12 times, according to the invention, at a dose of 5 pg p24/cell;

[0278] Figure XXX presents the diagram of the expression plasmid bearing, as RNA sequence of interest, the Luciferase used for the production of PP7RLP lentiviral particles, comprising the PP7 stem-loop motif repeated 12 times, according to the invention;

[0279] Figure XXXI presents a diagram illustrating the modification of the p8.74 lentiviral encapsidation plasmid in order to insert a Coat PP7 binding domain in the nucleocapsid sequence;

[0280] Figure XXXII presents the diagram of the encapsidation plasmid being used for the production of PP7 (NC)-RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention;

[0281] Figure XXXIII illustrates the dose effect of PP7 (NC)-RLP-Luc 12× particles according to the invention on the transduction of HCT116 cells;

[0282] Figure XXXIV presents a diagram of the expression plasmid with the PP7 stem-loop motif repeated 2 times, comprising the expression cassette for Luciferase (Figure XXXIVa) or for a fluorescent reporter (Figure XXXIVb) for the production of PP7 (NC)-RLP 2× or PP7 (IN)-RLP 2× particles according to the invention;

[0283] Figure XXXV presents a diagram of the expression plasmid for Luciferase with the PP7 stem-loop motif repeated 6 times for the production of PP7 (NC)-RLP 6× or PP7 (IN)-RLP 6× particles according to the invention;

[0284] Figure XXXVI illustrates the transfer kinetics of Luciferase RNA in HCT116 cells transduced by PP7 (NC)-RLP-Luc particles, of which the PP7 stem-loop motif is repeated 2 times, 6 times or 12 times, at a dose of 10 pg p24/cell;

[0285] Figure XXXVII presents a diagram of the modification of the p8.74 lentiviral encapsidation plasmid in order to insert a binding domain in the integrase sequence;

[0286] Figure XXXVIII presents a diagram of the encapsidation plasmid used for the production of PP7 (IN)-RLP lentiviral particles according to the invention, obtained by modifying the p8.74 lentiviral encapsidation plasmid presented in Figure XXXVII;

[0287] Figure XXXIX illustrates the transfer kinetics of Luciferase RNA in HCT116 cells transduced by PP7 (IN)-RLP-Luc lentiviral particles, comprising the PP7stem-loop motif repeated 2 times, 6 times or 12 times, according to the invention, at a dose of 2.8 pg p24/cell; and

[0288] Figure XL illustrates the transfer of ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP RNAs by the PP7 (NC)-RLP 2× particles into HCT116 cells.

EXAMPLE 1: CONSTRUCTION OF MS2RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES

[0289] I. Equipment and Methods

[0290] 1. Plasmid Construction

1.1 Plasmids for the Production of MS2RLP Lentiviral Particles

[0291] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure II) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, 12 repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the MS2 RNA (ctagaaaacatgaggatcacccatgtctgcag, SEQ ID No. 1) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene. The promoter used may be that of CMV (Figure IIa) or EF1 (Figures IIb and IIc) but other promoters may be used. The sequence of interest may be a DNA coding a reporter protein such as native Firefly luciferase (Figure IIa), a green (ZsGreenl), red (mCherry) or blue (mtBFP) fluorescent protein (Figure IIb), or a cDNA coding a protein, for example the CRE protein (Figure IIc). The sequence of interest may also be that of an shRNA, an miRNA, an sgRNA, an LncRNA or of an circRNA. [0292] Encapsidation plasmid: The lentiviral particle was modified to contain the Coat protein sequence of the bacteriophage MS2 within the nucleocapsid protein, instead of and in place of the second Zn finger domain The p8.74 encapsidation plasmid (Figure III), carrier of the genes coding the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), used for the production of the MS2RLP particles is modified according to the strategy illustrated by Figure IIIa: this p8.74 plasmid is used to generate, by PCR assembly, a plasmid lacking the second zinc finger of the p8.74ΔZF nucleocapsid protein. The second zinc finger is substituted by the Coat protein of the phage MS2 by HpaI cloning, to generate the p8.74θZF-MS2-Coat plasmid. The construction illustrated in Figure IIIb is thereby obtained. The sequence coding Pol may be deleted or mutated in some functional elements for example such as the sequence coding the reverse transcriptase (RT) or the integrase (IN) without altering the function of the MS2RLPs. [0293] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid carries the gene coding an envelope protein, which may be the VSVG coding the envelope protein of the Vesicular stomatitis virus (Figure IV).

1.2 Plasmids for the Production of Integrating Lentiviral Vectors ILV

[0294] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid carries a promoter-sequence of interest expression cassette (Figure V). This plasmid may contain other elements such the WPRE native sequence (WPRE standing for Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Posttranscriptional Regulatory Element) or the cPPT/CTS sequence. The viral pathogenicity is eliminated by the substitution of regions of the viral genome required for the retroviral replication by the transgene.

[0295] Encapsidation plasmid: The p8.74, encapsidation plasmid, which carries the genes coding for the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), is used for the production of the integrating lentiviral vectors (Figure VI).

[0296] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid is identical to the envelope plasmid used for the production of MS2RLP lentiviral particles (Figure IV).

1.3 Plasmids for the Production of Integration-Deficient Lentiviral Vectors IDLVs: Mutant D64L

[0297] The 3 plasmids are the same as those described in point 1.2 except for the encapsidation plasmid which comprises a D64L mutation of the poi sequence coding for the Integrase (Figure VII). This mutation on a single amino acid induces inhibition of the integration (Nightingale et al., 2006 and Apolonia et al., 2007). The D64L mutation on the integrase (IN) was introduced in the p8.74 plasmid by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutation was verified by sequencing.

1.4 pLuc and pCre Plasmids

[0298] These expression plasmids are similar to those used for the production of the ILV and IDLV vectors (Figure Vb for pLuc and Figure Vc for pCre), used directly in transfection for control.

[0299] 2. Batch Production

[0300] After the transfection of the plasmids into cells, the supernatants are harvested and used crude or concentrated/purified according to the method described in application WO 2013/014537.

2.1 Production of the Lentiviral Vectors and Lentiviral Particles

[0301] The productions are carried out in a 10-stack CellSTACK (6360 cm.sup.2, Corning) with HEK293T cells (ATCC, CRL-11268), cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM, Gibco, Paisley, UK) supplemented with 1% penicillin/streptomycin and 1% ultraglutamine (PAA) at 37° C. in moist atmosphere with 5% CO.sub.2 For the serum impact study assay, the DMEM is supplemented with 10% SVF. In particular, no induction with sodium butyrate is carried out. For each batch (MS2RLP, ILV and IDLV), the transfection mixture is composed of the following three plasmids: [0302] One of the expression plasmids described above, depending on whether what is formed is a particle (MS2RLP) or a vector (ILV, IDLV), [0303] p8.74ΔZF Coat (MS2RLP), p8.74 (ILV) or p8.74 mutated in position D64L (IDLV), and [0304] pENV bearing the envelope VSV-G.

[0305] 24 hours after standard transfection with calcium phosphate, the culture supernatant is replaced with fresh unsupplemented DMEM medium. The cells are incubated at 37° C./5% CO2. After changing the medium, the supernatant is harvested four times (32h, 48h, 56h and 72h post transfection). Each collection is clarified by 5 min centrifugation at 3000 g before being microfiltered on a 0.45 μm filter (Stericup, Millipore). All the collections are then pooled to compose the crude supernatant.

2.2 Concentration and Purification of the Lentiviral Vectors and Lentiviral Particles

[0306] The vectors and particles are concentrated and purified according to one of the following two methods: [0307] The method P1 is directed to performing frontal ultrafiltration of the supernatant on centrifugation central units. [0308] The P2 method is directed to performing tangential ultrafiltration then diafiltration of the supernatant. The crude supernatant is concentrated and purified by tangential ultrafiltration via the use of polysulfone hollow-fiber cartridges. The supernatant is treated by diafiltration for 20 diavolumes in continuous mode against DMEM or TSSM buffer. After the diafiltration, the retentate is collected then concentrated again by frontal ultrafiltration on central centrifugation units.

[0309] 3. Titration

3.1 Titration of the Functional Particles by qPCR

[0310] The HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates in 100 μL of DMEM supplemented with 10% SVF, 100 μg/mL Stretomycin, 100 U/mL Penicillin and 2 mM L-Gln then incubated 24h to 37° C./5% CO2. Six serial dilutions are carried out for each vector as well as for an internal calibration reference. The cells are transduced by serial dilutions in the presence of Polybrene® 8 μg/mL (Sigma) then incubated for three days 37° C./5% CO2. For each series of samples, one well of non-transduced cells is added as control. The cells are next trypsinized and the titer (Transduction Unit/mL) is determined by qPCR after extraction of the genome DNA using the Nucleospin tissue gDNA extraction kit (Macherey-Nagel). The titer obtained (TU/mL) by qPCR is normalized with the internal calibration reference of which the titer was determined in advance by FACS.

3.2 Quantization of the Physical Particles by P24 ELISA Test

[0311] The p24 capsid protein is directly detected in the viral supernatant using and following the recommendations for the HIV-1 p24 ELISA kit (Perkin Elmer). The p24 protein captured is complexed with a biotinylated polyclonal antibody, then detected by a streptavidin-HRP peroxidase conjugate. The resulting complex is detected by spectrophotometry after incubation with the substrate ortho-phenylenediamine-HCl (OPD) which produces a yellow coloration that is directly proportional to the amount of p24 captured. The absorbance of each well is quantified using the microplate reader Synergy H1 Hybrid (Biotek) and calibrated against absorbance of a p24 protein calibration reference range. The viral titer expressed in physical particles per mL is calculated from the p24 protein concentration obtained knowing that 1 pg of p24 protein corresponds to 10.sup.4 physical particles.

[0312] 4. Monotransduction

[0313] This example is directed to developing the conditions for monotransduction by the lentiviral vectors or the lentiviral particles produced above.

[0314] 5. Expression Kinetics for ZsGreenl

[0315] The HCT116 cells seeded the previous day with 25000 cells/cm2 in a 24-well plate (Corning) are transduced to 100000 PP/cell in the presence of 8 μg/mL of Polybrene®. At 8h and 24h post-transduction, the cells are trypsinized and analyzed by flow cytometry to measure the percentage of fluorescent cells. Each assay is carried out in triplicate.

[0316] 6. Expression Kinetics for Luciferase

6.1 HCT116 Cells

[0317] The HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 6 or 24-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by ILV or IDLV vectors or MS2RLP particles is carried out in the presence of 4 μg/mL Polybrene. The transduction supernatant is eliminated 4 hours after and replaced by fresh supplemented growth medium. From 4h to 24h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). This test is carried out in triplicate. In parallel, the HCT116 cells are transfected with the pLuc plasmid. For this, 50000 HCT116 cells are transfected with 2.6 μg of pLuc plasmid using PEI PRO® (Polyplus Transfection).

6.2 Foreskin Fibroblasts

[0318] The Foreskin fibroblasts seeded the previous day with 10,000 cells/cm.sup.2 in a 6-well plate (Corning) are transduced in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®. The cells were transduced to 200 000 and 500 000 PP/cell with the MS2RLP-Luc, or with MO15 with a Luc integrating lentiviral vector.

[0319] The cells transduced by the MS2RLP-Luc are trypsinized 8h post-transduction and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. The cells transduced by the ILV Luc are trypsinized 24h post-transduction and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. 3 minutes prior to reading in the luminometer, 100 μL of the reagent One Glo Luciferase (Promega) are added per well to analyze.

6.3 in Mice

[0320] Expression kinetic measurements for luciferase by bioluminescence in vivo were conducted.

[0321] Three groups of Balb/c male mice were compared, a first group received a suspension of purified rLV-EF1-Luc integrating type lentiviral viral (n=2), a second group received a suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles (n=4) produced according to the P2 method, and a last group received a suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles (n=4) produced according to the method P1. A non-injected animal served as negative control for determining background noise.

[0322] The measurements are carried out from 5h to 24h (Figure XV A), and from 48h to 168h (Figure XV B) after systemic injection. Each measurement of the expression of luciferase was made 15 minutes after intra-peritoneal injection of 300 mg/kg de D-luciferine (Promega) with an Andor camera, and the Solis imaging software. The acquisition time is 5 minutes and the resulting images were processed and normalized with the ImageJ software. Figure XV shows the images of each animal at the given times. The graphs (Figures XVI and XVII) represent the measurements of luciferase expression, in relative luminescence units (RLU) at these times.

[0323] 7. Impact of the Purity of the Particles for the Transduction

7.1 Foreskin Fibroblasts

[0324] The Foreskin fibroblasts seeded the previous day with 10000 cells/cm.sup.2 in a 24-well CellBind (Corning) are transduced in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®. The cells were transduced at 500 000 PP/cell with two types of quality of supernatant: batch produced in the presence of serum then obtained with the P2 method vs. batch produced without serum then obtained with the P2 method. At 8h post-transduction, the cells are trypsinized and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. 3 minutes prior to reading in the luminometer, 100 μL of the reagent One Glo Luciferase (Promega) are added per well to analyze.

7.2 HCT116 Cells

[0325] The cells seeded the previous day with 25000 cells/cm.sup.2 in a 24-well CellBind (Corning) are transduced in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®. The cells were transduced at 100000 PP/cell with two types of quality of supernatant: batch produced in the presence of serum then obtained with the P1 method vs. batch produced without serum then obtained with the P1 method. At 8h post-transduction, the cells are trypsinized and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. 3 minutes prior to reading in the luminometer, 100 μL of the reagent One Glo Luciferase (Promega) are added per well to analyze.

[0326] 8. Impact of BX795

8.1 Foreskin Fibroblasts

[0327] The Foreskin fibroblasts seeded the previous day with 10,000 cells/cm.sup.2 in a 6-well CellBind (Corning) are transduced in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®. The cells were transduced to 500000 PP/Cell for the MS2RLP particles, and MOI 5 for the ILVs. At 8h post-transduction, the cells are trypsinized and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. 3 minutes prior to reading in the luminometer, 100 μL of the reagent One Glo Luciferase (Promega) are added per well to analyze.

8.2 HCT116 Cells

[0328] HCT116 cells seeded the previous day with 25,000 cells/cm.sup.2 in a 6-well CellBind (Corning) are transduced in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®. The cells were transduced to 100000 PP/Cell for the MS2RLP, and MOI 5 for the ILVs. At 8h post-transduction, the cells are trypsinized and passed into opaque black-bottomed 96-well plates in 100 μL of complete medium. 3 minutes prior to reading in the luminometer, 100 μL of the reagent One Glo Luciferase (Promega) are added per well to analyze.

[0329] 9. In Vitro Expression of the CRE Recombinase

[0330] In a first phase, the HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are transduced by the ILV-EF1-Lox-dsRed-Lox lentiviral vector at MOI20 in the presence of 4 μg/mL Polybrene. Six days later, this polyclonal population is cloned using limiting dilution by seeding the cells in 96-well plates in a ratio of 0.5 cells per well. The HCT116-lox-dsRed-lox-clone 14 monoclonal line was selected by cytometry (MACS Quant VYB, Miltenyi), on the basis of the expression level of the dsRed.

[0331] In a second phase, the polyclonal and monoclonal cell lines were transduced with ILV-Cre vectors at MOI 5 or MS2RLP-Cre particles at a dose of 2.sup.5 Physical Particles (PP)/cell in the presence of 4 μg/mL of Polybrene®.

[0332] The HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox monoclonal and polyclonal cells transduced by the MS2RLP-Cre particles or by the ILV-Cre vectors, were incubated at 37° C./5% CO2 for 14 days. At 14 days post-transduction, the expression of the dsRed is analyzed by flow cytometry. Non-transduced cells (NT) serve for control. This assay is carried out in triplicate. In parallel, HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox monoclonal and polyclonal cells were transfected by the pCre plasmid. For this, 50000 HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells are transfected with 2.6 μg of pCre plasmid using PEI PRO® (Polyplus Transfection).

[0333] After extraction of the DNA from the HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells transduced by the ILV-Cre vectors or by the MS2RLP-Cre particles, or transfected by the pCRE plasmid, the number of copies integrated into the cells is measured by qPCR by detecting a short sequence of the Cre recombinase:

TABLE-US-00001 (SEQ ID No. 2) gcatttctggggattgcttataacaccctgttacgtatagccgaaattg ccaggatcagggttaaagatatctcacgtactgacggtgggagaat

[0334] with the following pair of qPCR oligonucleotides:

TABLE-US-00002 Q-CRE-F: (SEQ ID No. 3) 5'-GCATTTCTGGGGATTGCTTA-3' Q-CRE-R: (SEQ ID No. 4) 5'-ATTCTCCCACCGTCAGTACG-3'.

[0335] II. Results

[0336] 1. Lentiviral Particle Production Levels

[0337] The first assays consisted of comparing the respective production levels of the MS2RLP particles and of the IDLV or ILV vectors. Batches of each type of particle were produced and the titers of the particles were measured by a P24 Elisa test. The results are presented in Table 1 below:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Titers of the ILV and IDLV-D64L vectors and of the MS2RLP particles Type of Titers of the particles Batch No. supernatant PP/mL MS2RLP-Luc rV2.1A1.1740 C2 5.5 × 10.sup.11 IDLV-Luc rV2.1A1.1732 C2 3.1 × 10.sup.11 ILV-Luc rV2.1A1.2055 C2 6.9 × 10.sup.11

[0338] These results show that the three types of particles present equivalent titers (PP/ml+/−) after concentration by the same technique of tangential ultrafiltration. The encapsidation modifications or the mutation of the integrase do not therefore lead to a production deficit of the lentiviral particles.

[0339] 2. Expression Kinetics in the Target Cells.

[0340] A first series of tests was carried out with MS2RLP particles carrying a single type of RNA coding a green fluorescent protein (ZsGreenl) characterized by a long half-life. The results obtained with MS2RLP particles are presented in Figure VIII and show that the transfer of the RNAs is detected early (as of 8h post-transduction). The results obtained show a comparable percentage of positive HCT116 cells at 24 hours by the MS2RLP lentiviral particles or the ILV or IDLV-D64L lentiviral vectors. The percentage of positive cells is detectable as of 8 hours for the MS2RLP particles but only as of 24 hours for the ILV and IDLV-D64L vectors. These MS2RLP particles are thus functional and present a capacity equivalent to that of an ILV or of an IDLV-D64L for introducing a coding sequence into a cell population.

[0341] In the case of an integrating lentiviral system, the RNAs are retrotranscribed by the RT. The cDNA is then translocated into the nucleus prior to its integration into the host cell genome. It is only as of this step that the transcription then translation of the transgene takes place. In the case of a non-integrating lentiviral system (mutation on the IN), the RNAs are retrotranscribed by the RT. The cDNA is then translocated into the nucleus before being transcribed into RNA then translated as protein.

[0342] Only the MS2RLP particles enable an early expression of the transgene on account of the absence of all these intermediate steps. The delivered RNA is directly translated as protein by the cell mechanisms.

[0343] A second series of tests was carried out with MS2RLP particles carrying a single type of RNA coding Luciferase (Luc) characterized by a short half-life. The results obtained with MS2RLP particles are present in Figure IX and show that the optimal activity of the Luciferase is also detected early.

[0344] The expression of the Luciferase is transient and it progressively reduces from 8h to 24h. By contrast, the expression of fluorescence remains detectable or even stable over this type of kinetic. These results must consider the half-life of the reporter protein used. It is clear that the detection of the reporter gene is proportional to that half-life. The longer it is, the longer the activity related to the protein.

[0345] In Figure X, it is also possible to observe that the luciferase expression intensity varies according to the PP/cell ratio used in the transduction. This dose effect is shown in particular in the Foreskin fibroblasts.

[0346] It is thus important to be able to attain high doses of MS2RLP particles to apply to the cells to transduce in order to induce a significant level of expression capable of leading to biological activity. The concentration of the particles appears as a key factor for success. In Foreskin fibroblasts, the expression of Luciferase induced with particles at high dose i.e. 500000 PP/cell, is equivalent to that obtained with conventional integrating lentiviral vectors with a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5. The determination of the optimum dose for the transduction of the HCT116 by the MS2RLP particles was carried out under the same conditions as for the Foreskin fibroblasts, by testing doses of 50000, 100000 and 200000 PP/Cell. The dose chosen is 100000 PP/cell, for which the best Luciferase RNA transfer is obtained. The results show that the transduction method must be adapted depending on the permissivity of the target cells.

[0347] These results are confirmed by assays of in vivo injection of the MS2RLP-Luc particles which show luciferase expression detection 5 hours after injection.

[0348] 3. Impact of Production and Purity of the Suspension of MS2RLP Particles on the Transduction Effectiveness.

[0349] According to the target cell type, it is important to be able to increase the dose of particles in order to obtain a high number of cells expressing the transported RNAs. It is possible to increase the dose of particles without affecting the viability of the target cells by using purified particles, as shown in application WO 2013/014537. As a matter of act, the final purity of the batch of lentiviral particles is affected by the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS).

[0350] To evaluate the impact of the purity of the suspension of MS2RLP particles on Luciferase expression, we compared the Luciferase expression as a function of the purity of two types of supernatant batches: [0351] A supernatant concentrated from MS2RLP particles produced with serum, [0352] A supernatant concentrated from MS2RLP particles produced without serum.

[0353] This study was conducted both on HCT116 permissive immortalized cells (Figure XII) and on primary cells that are less permissive and delicate, Foreskin fibroblasts (Figure XI).

[0354] The results obtained show that the purity of the batch has a high impact on the effectiveness of the transduction of delicate primary cells at high dose. At 500000 PP/cell, the effect of purity is considerable since the activity of the Luciferase is increased by nearly 80% with the batch without serum (Figure XI). In the presence of FCS, there is by contrast a reduction in luminescence expression.

[0355] On very resistant HCT116 immortalized cells, the impact of purity is not detectable on the activity of Luciferase (Figure XII). By contrast, the batch produced in the presence of serum presents more heterogeneous results, which shows much weaker reproducibility than with the batch produced without serum. This result therefore justifies the choice of producing batches of particles in the absence of serum.

[0356] These assays show the necessity of concentrating these lentiviral particles to obtain a high level of expression compatible with induction of a phenotype at cell and tissue level and furthermore shows the impact of the purity of these batches on the effectiveness of gain transfer.

[0357] 4. Identification of the Optimum Conditions for Gene Transfer by the MS2RLP Particles

[0358] To increase the effectiveness of RNA transfer, the results obtained by Sutlu et al. (2012) to increase the transduction effectiveness of Natural Killer NK cells were transposed. More particularly, the hypothesis was formulated that the antiviral responses based on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and/or RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) could restrict the effectiveness of the RNA transfer in certain cells. In order to test this hypothesis, an inhibitor of small signaling molecules TLR and RLR was used during the placing in contact of the cells with the MS2RLP particles. The BX795 molecule is an inhibitor of the BK1/IKKε complex, which acts as a common mediator in the signaling paths of RIG-I, MDA-5, and TLR3.

[0359] The use of the BX795 molecule at a concentration of 6 μM considerably increases the transduction effectiveness of HCT116 cells (Figure XIV) and of Foreskin fibroblasts (Figure XIII). The observation time (8h for the MS2RLP particles, 24h for the ILVs) takes into account the functioning of each particle (Figures VIII and IX). A synergistic effect may be observed between the MS2RLP particles and the use of BX795 in the HCT116 cells as in the Foreskin fibroblasts, whereas the BX795 induces a negative effect with the integrating lentiviral vectors ILV in these two cell types. This effect may be linked to a differential in the number of RNA molecules delivered by these two types of particle.

[0360] 5. Study of Gene Transfer by Luciferase MS2RLP Particles In Vivo.

[0361] The injection in vivo of MS2RLP-Luc particles is directed to revealing the expression kinetics of a transgene, in the present case, luciferase, in the various mouse organs injected systemically. A suspension of purified ILV-EF1-Luc integrating vectors is used as positive control. The measurements are made as of 5h and up until 7 days post-injection. The intravenous administration engenders a dilution of the injected suspension and therefore a dispersion of the bioluminescence signal which is to be considered. The analyses are therefore made on the whole animal in order to take into account the distribution of the signal throughout the body. A suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles produced in accordance with the method P1 in the presence of serum and a suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles purified in accordance with the P2 method are tested. The injection of the suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles, in accordance with the p2 method in the presence of serum in which the purification is less, led to difficulties both for sampling and for injection. As a matter of fact, this suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles, obtained by the P1 method in the presence of serum, is characterized by a brown suspension of high viscosity which is particularly difficult to sample with a 29G needle used for in vivo injections. This difficulty arises at the time of delivery of the suspension into the tail vein. The use of a suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles that was obtained by a P1 method in the presence of serum resulted in poor administration of the particles which become localized in the caudal region of the animal (i.e. at the injection site) and do not pass into the general circulation of the animal (Figure XV A), times H5 and H8 of the group “MS2RLP-Luc produced in accordance with the P1 method in the presence of serum”). The suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles obtained by a P1 method in the presence of serum cannot therefore be used in in vivo studies.

[0362] Normal administration of the purified suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles was possible which gives rise to a luciferase expression of 818 ULR at 5 hours after injection. This signal is still visible at 8 hours then disappears at later times (Figures XV A, XVI and XVII), “purified MS2RLP-Luc” group) The bioluminescence signal is found mainly in the liver and the spleen (Figure XV A), “purified MS2RLP-Luc” group). In comparison, at 5 hours, the luminance measured in the animals having received the purified suspension of ILV-EF1-Luc integrating viral vectors is not significant since the reverse transcription and the integration are abortive at these short times. In contrast, at an early stage (5 hours post-injection), the signal obtained with the purified suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles is significant and attains an expression level twice higher than the signal obtained with the purified suspension of ILV-EF1-Luc integrating viral vectors. After 5 hours, the purified suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles attains an expression level equivalent to that of the purified suspension of ILV-EF1-Luc integrating viral vectors after 168h (Figures XV B and XVI) group “purified ILV-EF1-Luc”. The purified suspension of MS2RLP-Luc particles makes it possible to obtain an optimized transient expression in vivo equivalent to an expression level resulting from an integrating mechanism of lentiviral transduction. The expression is transient on account of the non-integration of the transgene into the genome of the cells. The method of concentration/purification thus makes it possible to obtain suspensions of MS2RLP particles that are effective after in vivo injection.

[0363] 6. Comparison of the Functionality of the Different Particles

[0364] HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells were generated in advance by transduction with an integrating lentiviral vector bearing the following sequence: EF1-Lox-DsRed-Lox. After obtaining a polyclonal fluorescent line, a monoclonal line was obtained by limiting dilution. It is to be noted that the number of copies of the integrated Lox-DsRed-Lox sequence was quantified by qPCR in polyclonal and monoclonal lines. The number of copies integrated is on average 6 for the polyclonal line and 13 copes for the monoclonal line.

[0365] These two lines were transduced by MS2RLP particles carrying the sequence coding for the Cre recombinase enzyme In parallel, these HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells were transduced by ILV lentiviral vectors carrying the same Cre sequence.

[0366] The HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox monoclonal and polyclonal cells transduced by the MS2RLP-Cre particles, the ILV-Cre vectors, were incubated at 37° C./5% CO2 for 14 days before cytometer analysis. The results of quantification of the percentage of fluorescent cells by flow cytometry are presented in Figure XVIII. The results show that the fluorescence has practically disappeared within the polyclonal and monoclonal populations placed in contact with the MS2RLP-Cre particles. As a matter of fact, the percentage of fluorescent cells passed from 100% to less than 10%. The result is much less effective with ILV-Cre integrating vectors (15% reduction) as well as in the condition of transfection of the pCre plasmid (no reduction).

[0367] The integration events after transfer of the nucleic acids coding CRE recombinase in HCT116 cells by MS2RLP-Cre particles, by ILV-Cre vectors, or by pCre plasmids, were verified. To that end, we quantified the number of residual copies of the genome carried by the different types of particles and plasmids, in the HCT116-Lox-dsRed-Lox cells placed in contact with the ILV vectors, the MS2RLP particles or the plasmids coding the CRE protein. To that end, the entirety of the DNAs of the wild-type and modified HCT116 cells was prepared 6 and 14 days after transduction and the DNA coding the CRE recombinase was measured by qPCR.

[0368] The results presented in Figure XIX show that with integrating lentiviral vectors the number of integration events is 4 copies per cell at 6 days. This number is consistent with the multiplicity of infection (MOI) used. The transfection control shows a high number of DNA copies at 6 days, corresponding to the detection of the plasmid present in the cells, then a total disappearance of the copies of Cre DNA at 14 days, on account of the absence of integration of the plasmid into the genome of the target cells.

[0369] With the MS2RLP particles, no integration event is detected. As a matter of fact, as the expression is not dependent on the reverse transcriptase or on the LTR ends, these particles deliver the RNA inside target cells which is either directly translated into proteins, or taken by a protein into the nucleus of the cells and does not generate any DNA species.

EXAMPLE 2: TRANSFER OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT RNAS BY SINGLE TRANSDUCTION WITH MS2RLP PARTICLES

[0370] I. Equipment and Methods

[0371] 1. Mono- and Tri-Transduction

[0372] This example is conducted using MS2RLP particles or IDLV vectors enabling either the transfer of a single type of RNA enabling the expression of a single protein (ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP), or the transfer of several types of RNA enabling the expression of several different proteins (ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP).

[0373] The MS2RLP particles and the non-integrating lentiviral vectors IDLV are produced in the following conditions: [0374] The particles were produced by transfection of HEK293T cells, with a single expression plasmid coding either ZsGreenl, or mCherry, or mtBFP (as is described in Example 1), in addition to the encapsidation and envelope plasmids, [0375] The particles are produced by transfection of HEK293T cells with three expression plasmids respectively coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP added in equimolar amount, for a total amount of expression plasmids equivalent to the total amount of expression plasmids used for particle production with a single expression plasmid, in addition to the encapsidation and envelope plasmids,

[0376] The HCT116 particles were transduced by the MS2RLP particles either: [0377] by transduction with the 3 types of MS2RLP particles ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP independently. [0378] by mono-transduction with the particles produced with the three expression plasmids coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP simultaneously.

[0379] In parallel, HCT116 cells are transduced by IDLV vectors either: [0380] by transduction with the 3 types of IDLV vectors ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP independently. [0381] by mono-transduction with the IDLV vectors produced with the three expression plasmids coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP simultaneously.

[0382] The percentage of fluorescent cells was quantified by flow cytometry.

[0383] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by MS2RLP particles or the IDLV vectors is carried out in the presence of 4 μg/mL Polybrene. At different times post-transduction (8h, 24h and 48h), the cells are harvested and the percentage of cells expressing the ZsGreenl, the mCherry and the mtBFP is quantified by cytometry (Macs Quant VYB, Miltenyi Biotec). A cell defense mechanism inhibitor, BX795 (InvivoGen), is used at a concentration of 6 μM. Each assay is carried out in triplicate.

[0384] II. Results

[0385] 1. Capacity to Transfer Several Different RNAs in a Single Transduction with MS2RLP Particles

[0386] The objective of the following assays is to demonstrate the capacity of the MS2RLP particles to transfer several different RNAs into target cells, so making it possible to reduce the number of transductions on the target cells. Thus it becomes possible to transfer several different RNAs in a single transduction rather than to have to perform one transduction per RNA species. For this, we generated three purified batches of MS2RLP particles, under optimum conditions defined in Example 1, that is to say purified batches, produced without serum, according to the method described in application WO 2013/014537. In the production phase of the MS2RLP particles, three types of plasmids coding for fluorescent reporters were used simultaneously in equimolar amounts (ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP), with the encapsidation and envelope plasmids, in order to obtain a batch of MS2RLP particles comprising several different types of RNA. The HCT116 cells were then transduced in the presence of BX795, and the transfer of the different RNAs is observed at 8h, 24h and 48h post-transduction.

[0387] Figure XX illustrates the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells in the green, the red and the blue, after a single transduction of HCT116 cells by MS2RLP particles at two different doses (100000 PP/cell and 300000 PP/cell), or after three simultaneous transductions of MS2RLP particles expressing ZsGreenl or mCherry or mtBFP produced according to Example 1, at a final dose of 300000 PP/cell.

[0388] Contrary to the results of Example 1 showing that it is possible to detect the expression of a single fluorescent or luminescent protein at 8 hours, the expression of the three fluorescences at 8h post-transduction is not detectable, at a dose of 100000 PP/cell. However, 48% of cells are tri-fluorescent at 24h post-transduction. This proportion of tri-fluorescent cells increases, to attain 60% at 48h post-transduction. The results thus show that the MS2RLP particles are capable of transporting and transferring at least 3 types of RNA in a single transduction of the target cells.

[0389] The determination of the optimum dose of particles per cell is important since it is observed that the increase in the dose of MS2RLP particles leads to a reduction in the number of tri-fluorescent cells (Figure XX, 300000 PP/cell) in particular 48 hours after transduction. To be precise, if the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells at 300000 PP/cell is a little greater at 8h post-transduction (5% of tri-fluorescent cells) than at 100000 PP/cell, the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells begins to reduce at 24h post-transduction by passing from 48% to 40% of tri-fluorescent cells. This difference in transfer effectiveness between the two doses used is all the greater at 48h post-transduction: as a matter of fact, 43% of tri-fluorescent cells are observed for the dose of 300000 PP/cell as against 60% of tri-fluorescent cells for the dose of 100000 PP/cell.

[0390] In parallel, three simultaneous transductions of HCT116 cells with batches of MS2RLP particles produced individually in accordance with example 1 were conducted. The dose used is 100000 PP/cell for each type of fluorescence, i.e. a total dose of 300000 PP/cell. The results show that the percentage of tri-fluorescent cells obtained by three simultaneous transduction of particles carrying only one RNA species is smaller than that induced by a single transduction by particles carrying 3 species of RNA. As a matter of fact, only 7% of tri-fluorescent cells are detected at 8h post-transduction, then 20% of tri-fluorescent cells at 24h post-transduction, i.e. only 42% of the level obtained with the single transduction at 100000 PP/cell and 50% of the level obtained with the single transduction at 300000 PP/cell; and lastly 23% of tri-fluorescent cells at 48h post-transduction, i.e. 38% of the percentage obtained with the single transduction at 100000 PP/cell and 54% of the percentage obtained with the single transduction at 300000 PP/cell. In conclusion, the tri-transduction does not enable percentages of tri-colored cells to be obtained that are as high as those obtained with the three simultaneous transductions.

[0391] The revelation of the transfer capacity of different types of RNA in a single transduction of a same batch of MS2RLP particles represents a significant gain over the simultaneous transfer of these different RNAs into target cells. This new property of MS2RLP particles, which directly results in the optimization of the number of transductions to perform, makes it possible not to compromise the viability of the target cells both by too great a number of transductions as well as by the placing of the cells in contact with too great a quantity of particles.

[0392] 2. Comparison with an IDLV Vector

[0393] The same assays as at point 1 above were reproduced with another type of particle in parallel: a viral vector that is integration-deficient by a mutation in position 64 on the Integrase coding sequence (IDLV).

[0394] Figure XXI illustrates the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells in the green, the red and the blue, after a single transduction of HCT116 cells with MS2RLP particles produced with the 3 expression plasmids ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP, in comparison with the three transductions of HCT116 cells with IDLV vectors expressing ZsGreenl or mCherry or mtBFP produced according to Example 1, at a total dose of 300000 PP/cell.

[0395] The IDLV vectors are produced in the same conditions as the MS2RLP particles in order to make it possible to perform a single transduction, at the same dose as that used for the MS2RLP particles. At 24h after the single transduction at a dose of 100000 PP/cell, the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells is slightly greater in the case of the use of IDLV vectors relative to that obtained with the MS2RLP particles (respectively 56% and 48%). This tendency is confirmed at 48h after the single transduction at a dose of 100000 PP/cell (respectively 80% and 60%).

[0396] At 24h post-transduction, the single transduction of the HCT116 cells by IDLV vectors results in a percentage of tri-colored cells equivalent to that obtained after tri-transduction by IDLV vectors. This tendency remains stable at 48h post-transduction, with a minimum difference between the 2 transduction methods (71% for the tri-transduction against 81% for the single transduction). Thus, contrary to to the results obtained with the MS2RLP particles, the IDLV vectors produced with 3 expression plasmids do not enable a notable increase in the percentage of tri-colored cells at the time of their transduction, in comparison with a tri-transduction. This advantage of the MS2RLP particles is probably explained by their capacity to encapsidate more RNA molecules than the IDLVs or ILVs (which encapsidate strictly 2 molecules only). Thus the expression of 3 different transgenes is facilitated since it does not require the transduction of a same cell by several lentiviral particles.

[0397] It will be noted moreover that the percentage of tri-fluorescent cells at 8h post-transduction is only detectable with the IDLV vectors at 300000 PP/cell in the case of the three transductions or in that of the mono-transduction. By contrast, At 300000 PP/cell, the MS2RLP particles enable tri-fluorescent cells to be detected at 8h post-transduction (Figure XX).

[0398] In the case of the three mono-transductions by IDLV vectors, the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells is slightly greater at 24h and 48h after the three transductions (respectively 60% and 70% of tri-fluorescent cells) than in the case of a single transduction of MS2RLP particles at 100000 PP/cell (respectively 24h and 48h of tri-fluorescent cells). It is important to note that this transfer difference is approximately 20% for a dose used for the IDLV vectors 3 times greater than the optimum dose for the MS2RLP particles.

[0399] Furthermore, the IDLV particles, although deficient for integration, do not make it possible to avoid residual integrations in the genome of the target cells (Nightingale et al., 2006 and Apolonia et al., 2007). Due to this, the probability of residual integration events increases with the dose of IDLV particles used. The use of MS2RLP particles, by their nature, does not therefore enable this constraint to be avoided by the total absence of residual integration, whatever the integration used.

[0400] 3. Comparison with an ILV Vector

[0401] Figures XX and XXII show the transduction profiles for MS2RLP particles and ILV vectors, which are characteristic of the encapsidation of two viral RNA molecules, in conditions making it possible to see a quantitative effect of tri-transduction vs. single transduction (non-saturating conditions).

[0402] Transduction of HCT116 Cells by ILV Vectors, Observation at 24h Post-Transduction (Figure XXII)

[0403] The tri-transduction of the cells with ILV vectors at MOI5 involving the use of batches of different vectors each coding for a different fluorescent protein (MOI final=3*5=15) makes it possible to obtain 7.5% of cells expressing the three colors. In comparison, the single transduction at the same dose (MOI15) makes it possible to obtain only 0.8% of cells expressing the three colors. As the percentage of cells expressing the three colors thus reduces between tri-transduction and single transduction, the single transduction is not therefore the best adapted method for the use of ILVs.

[0404] This difference is confirmed at other doses. The tri-transduction of cells with vectors involving the use of batches of different vectors each coding for a different fluorescent protein at MOI20 (MOI final=3*20=60) makes it possible to obtain nearly 75% of cells expressing the three colors while in single transduction at MOI 60, only 38% of cells express the three colors.

[0405] Even if the ILV dose used is increased beyond the optimum dose, for example to MOI120, the single transduction of ILV does not make it possible to attain the percentage of cells expressing the three colors obtained in tri-transduction at MOI120 (61.7% vs. 83.3%), nor that obtained in tri-transduction at MOI 60 (61.7% vs. 75.6%).

[0406] The MOI 5, 10, 20, 60 used enable operation at at non-saturating transduction conditions making it possible to measure actual transductions differences to be measured.

[0407] Transduction of HCT116 Cells by MS2RLP Particles, Observation at 24h Post-Transduction (Figure XX)

[0408] The tri-transduction of cells with MS2RLP particles involving the use of batches of different vectors each coding for a different fluorescent protein at a dose of 10 pg/cell for each batch of MS2RLP particles (final dose=3*10 pg=30 pg/cell) makes it possible to obtain 20% of cells expressing the three colors. As regards the single transduction of cells with MS2RLP particles at the same dose (30 pg/cell), this makes it possible to obtain twice the number of cells expressing the three colors, i.e. 40%. As the percentage of cells expressing the three colors thus doubles between tri-transduction and single transduction, the single transduction is therefore the best adapted method for the use of MS2RLP particles. This result is the opposite of that obtained with ILV vectors.

[0409] The MS2RLP particles thus show a different transduction profile to that obtained by the use of ILV vectors which is explained by the difference in the mode of formation of the vectors or particles. As a matter of fact, MS2RLP particles differ from ILV vectors by their heterologous recruitment system for non-viral RNA. In the case of the ILV integrating lentiviral vector, the recruitment by the encapsidation system mediated by the Psi sequence limits the number of RNA viral molecules in the particle to 2. Our results of quantification of the number of RNA molecules in the MS2RLP lentiviral particle estimated that on average, 6 RNA molecules are encapsidated in the MS2RLP particle. These differential encapsidations may explain the differences in transduction by multiple sequences between ILV and MS2RLP.

[0410] Furthermore, with the MS2RLP particles in single transduction at 10 pg/cell, which is the optimum use dose, 48% of cells are obtained expressing the three colors, whereas in tri-transduction at a dose 3 times greater (i.e. 30 passage/cell), only 20% of cells are obtained expressing the three colors, i.e. 2.5 times fewer cells expressing the three colors.

[0411] In conclusion, these last results show that only the MS2RLP particles are capable of introducing more than 2 species of RNA into target cells based on a single composition of particles, this being at short times post-transduction or injection (5-8 hours) without inducing an integrating event.

EXAMPLE 3: COMPARISON OF THE TRANSDUCTION EFFECTIVENESS OF HCT116 CELLS BY MS2RLP-ZSGREEN PARTICLES PRODUCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH METHOD P1 OR P2, DESCRIBED IN EXAMPLE 1

[0412] I. Equipment and Methods

[0413] This example is carried out using MS2RLP particles enabling the transfer of a single type of RNA permitting the expression on a single protein (ZsGreenl).

[0414] The particles were produced by transfection of HEK293T cells with a single expression plasmid coding ZsGreenl, (as is described in Example 1), in addition to the encapsidation and envelope plasmids, and by following the production methods P1 or P2, described in Example 1.

[0415] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded at 5000 cellules/cm.sup.2 in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2.

[0416] The transduction by the MS2RLP particles is carried out in the presence of 4 μg/mL Polybrene® with different amounts of MS2RLP particles/cell ((10, 20 and 30 pg p24/cell). At 48h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the percentage of cells expressing ZsGreenl as well as the fluorescence intensity are quantified by cytometry (Macs Quant VYB, Miltenyi Biotec). A cell defense inhibitor mechanism, BX795 (InvivoGen), is used at a concentration of 6 μM. Each assay is carried out in triplicate.

[0417] II. Results

[0418] The objective of this assay is to compare the effectiveness of the transduction of HCT116 cells by MS2RLP-ZsGreen particles produced in accordance with the method P1 or P2. The results presented in Figure XXIII show that the RNA transfer capacity is not impacted by the production method since the percentage of transduced cells is the same whatever the production method used. However, only the expression of the transgene is impacted by the production method. As a matter of fact, the purified particles make it possible to obtain the highest expression level of the protein of interest, whatever the dose of MS2RLP particles used.

EXAMPLE 4: CONSTRUCTION OF MS2RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES BY MODIFYING THE NUCLEOCAPSID AND TEST FOR THE NUMBER OF REPETITIONS OF THE STEM-LOOP MOTIF OF THE MS2 RNA

[0419] I. Equipment and Methods

[0420] 1. Plasmid Construction

[0421] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure II) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, several repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the MS2 RNA (ctagaaaacatgaggatcacccatgtctgcag, SEQ ID No. 1) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene:

[0422] 2 repetitions (Figure XXIV)

[0423] 6 repetitions (Figure XXV)

[0424] 12 repetitions (Figure XXVI

The sequence of interest chosen is that of native Firefly Lucif eras.

[0425] Encapsidation plasmid: the encapsidation plasmid is that described in Example 1 (Figure IIIb).

[0426] Envelope plasmid (pENV): the encapsidation plasmid is that described in Example 1 (Figure IV).

[0427] 2. Production, Concentration/Purification and Titration of the Lentiviral Particles

[0428] The lentiviral particles are produced as described in Example 1 and are concentrated and purified according to method P1 as described in Example 1.

[0429] 3. Expression Kinetics for Luciferase

[0430] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by the MS2RLP2×, 6×, 12× particles is carried out at a dose of 100 000 PP/cell (10 pg p24/cell), in the presence of 4 μg/mL Polybrene®. The transduction supernatant is eliminated 4 hours after and replaced by fresh supplemented growth medium. At 4h, 8h, 24h, 32h, and 48h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the Luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). Each test is carried out in triplicate. The control is carried out by non-transduced HCT116 cells.

[0431] II. Results

[0432] The results are presented in Figure XXVII. The objective of this assay is to verify that it is possible to reduce the number of repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence on the expression plasmid without the expression level of the RNA to deliver being impacted. The expression kinetics of the Luciferase presents an increase in the luminescence signal from 4h to 8h showing that in the case of a protein with a short life, the maximum expression is attained early, whatever the number of motifs of the MS2 sequence that are repeated. After 8h, the activity of the Luciferase reduces, until at 48h it attains the same level as at 4h post-transduction (between 10 000 and 20 000 URL). The construction bearing 2 and 6 repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence show the same Luciferase expression profile over time. However, the expression of Luciferase by the construction bearing 12 repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence is 30% higher than the constructions bearing 2 or 6 repeated motifs. Therefore, the MS2RLP particles are effective for delivering RNAs whatever the number of repeated motifs used. According to the application, the number of repetitions of the MS2 motif will have to be adapted.

EXAMPLE 5: CONSTRUCTION OF MS2RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES BY MODIFYING THE LUCIFERASE AND TEST FOR THE NUMBER OF REPETITIONS OF THE STEM-LOOP MOTIF OF THE MS2 RNA

[0433] I. Equipment and Methods

[0434] 1. Plasmid Construction

[0435] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure II) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, several repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the MS2 RNA (ctagaaaacatgaggatcacccatgtctgcag, SEQ ID No. 1) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene:

[0436] 2 repetitions (Figure XXIV)

[0437] 6 repetitions (Figure XXV)

[0438] 12 repetitions (Figure XXVI

[0439] The promoter used may be that of CMV (Figure IIa) or EF1 (Figures IIb) but other promoters may be used. The sequence of interest may be a DNA coding a reporter protein such as native Firefly Luciferase (Figure IIa), a green (ZsGreenl), red (mCherry) or blue (mtBFP) fluorescent protein (Figure IIb), or a cDNA coding a protein, for example the CRE protein (FIG. 11c). The sequence of interest may also be that of an shRNA, an miRNA, an sgRNA, an LncRNA or of an circRNA.

[0440] Encapsidation plasmid: The lentiviral particle was modified to contain within the integrase, the sequence of the Coat protein of the bacteriophage MS2. The p8.74 encapsidation plasmid (Figure VI), carrier of the genes coding the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), used for the production of the MS2RLP particles is modified according to the strategy illustrated by Figure I: this p8.74 plasmid is used to generate, by PCR assembly, a plasmid on which the Coat protein of the phage MS2 is merged with the C-terminal domain of the integrase. This merging, obtained by HpaI cloning, makes it possible to generate the Linear Coat p8.74-POL-MS2 plasmid (Figure XXVIII). A construction is thus obtained as illustrated in Figure I (p8.74.IN-coat). The Pol coding sequence may be deleted or mutated in certain functional elements for example such as the sequence coding reverse transcriptase (RT).

[0441] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid carries the gene coding an envelope protein, which may be the VSVG coding the envelope protein of the Vesicular stomatitis virus (Figure IV).

[0442] 2. Production, Concentration/Purification and Titration of the Lentiviral Particles

[0443] The lentiviral particles are produced as described in Example 1, in accordance with the P1 method.

[0444] 3. Expression Kinetics for Luciferase

[0445] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by the MS2(IN)-RLP2×, 6×, 12× particles produced in accordance with the P1 method is carried out at a dose of 5 pg p24/cell, in the presence of 8 μg/mL Polybrene®. The transduction supernatant is eliminated 4 hours after and replaced by fresh supplemented growth medium. At 4h, 8h, 24h, 32h, and 48h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the Luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). This test is carried out in triplicate. The control is carried out by non-transduced HCT116 cells.

[0446] II. Results

[0447] The results are presented in Figure XXIX. The objective of this assay is to verify that it is possible transfer RNAs into the lentiviral particles with MS2-Coat into the integrase and reduce the number of repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence on the expression plasmid without the expression level of the RNA to deliver being impacted. The maximum expression of Luciferase is attained early, whatever the number of repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence. The strongest luminescence signal of the Luciferase expression kinetics is obtained as of 4h and until 24h. After 24h, the Luciferase activity reduces until it attains a signal 2 to 4 times weaker than for the conditions at 4/8/24h. The MS2(IN)-RLP particles thus make it possible to deliver RNAs, whatever the number of repeated motifs of the MS2 sequence.

EXAMPLE 6: CONSTRUCTION OF PP7(NC)-RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES AND TEST FOR THE DOSE EFFECT OF THE PP7RLP PARTICLES ON THE TRANSDUCTION OF HCT116 CELLS

[0448] I. Equipment and Methods

[0449] 1. Plasmid Construction

1.1 Plasmids for the Production of PP7(NC)-RLP Luc 12× Lentiviral Particles

[0450] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure XXX) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, 12 repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the PP7 RNA (ctagaaggagcagacgatatggcgtcgctccctgcag SEQ ID No. 5) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene.

[0451] The promoter used may be that of CMV or EF1 (Figure XXX) but other promoters may be used. The sequence of interest may be a DNA coding a reporter protein such as native Firefly Luciferase (Figure IIa), a green (ZsGreenl), red (mCherry) or blue (mtBFP) fluorescent protein (Figure IIb), or a cDNA coding a protein, for example the CRE protein (Figure IIc). The sequence of interest may also be that of an shRNA, an miRNA, an sgRNA, an LncRNA or of an circRNA.

[0452] Encapsidation plasmid: The lentiviral particle was modified to contain the Coat protein sequence of the bacteriophage PP7 within the nucleocapsid protein, instead of and in place of the second Zn finger domain The p8.74 encapsidation plasmid, carrier of the genes coding the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), used for the production of the PP7RLP particles is modified according to the strategy illustrated by Figure XXXI: this p8.74 plasmid is used to generate, by PCR assembly, a plasmid lacking the second zinc finger of the p8.74ΔZF nucleocapsid protein. The second zinc finger is substituted by the Coat protein of the phage PP7 by HpaI cloning, to generate the p8.74ΔZF-PP7-Coat plasmid. The construction illustrated in Figure XXXII is thereby obtained. The sequence coding Pol may be deleted or mutated in some functional elements for example such as the sequence coding the reverse transcriptase (RT) or the integrase (IN) without altering the function of the PP7RLPs.

[0453] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid carries the gene coding an envelope protein, which may be the VSVG coding the envelope protein of the Vesicular stomatitis virus (Figure IV).

1.2 Plasmids for the Production of MS2(NC)-RLP Luc 12× Lentiviral Particles

[0454] The plasmids used are identical to those used in Example 1.

[0455] 2. Production, Concentration/Purification and Titration of the Lentiviral Particles

[0456] The lentiviral particles are produced as described in Example 1, in accordance with the P1 method.

[0457] 3. Dose Effect of the PP7(NC)-RLP-Luc Particles

[0458] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by the PP7(NC)-RLP-Luc-12× particles, produced in accordance with the P1 method is carried out at a dose ranging from 0 to 20 pg p24/cell, in the presence of 8 μg/mL Polybrene®. At 4h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the Luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). This test is carried out in triplicate. The control is carried out by non-transduced HCT116 cells.

[0459] II. Results

[0460] The results are presented in Figure XXXIII. The objective of this assay is, in a first phase, to see whether the RNA/protein interaction system of the PP7 bacteriophage enables RNA encapsidation on forming RLP particles. In a second phase, this assay makes it possible to determine the best experimental conditions of use for the PP7(NC)-RLP particles.

[0461] Figure XXXIII shows that as of the dose of 1 pg p24/cell, the Luciferase activity is strongly detected. The more the dose of PP7(NC)-RLP is increased, the higher the Luciferase activity. Furthermore, in comparison with the MS2(NC)-RLP vector used at the same dose as the PP7(NC)-RLP, the Luciferase activity signal is very highly comparable.

[0462] This assay shows that with 12 repeated motifs of the PP7 sequence, the RNA encapsidation system by the Coat protein of the PP7 bacteriophage operates equally well as the system resulting from the bacteriophage MS2, and that to obtain a very high expression of the protein of interest, a dose of 10 pg p24/cell may be adopted.

EXAMPLE 7: CONSTRUCTION OF PP7(NC)-RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES AND TEST OF THE NUMBER OF REPETITIONS OF THE STEM-LOOP MOTIF OF THE PP7 RNA

[0463] I. Equipment and Methods

[0464] 1. Plasmid Construction

1.1 Plasmids for the Production of PP7(NC)-RLP Lentiviral Particles

[0465] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure XXX) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, several repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the PP7 RNA (ctagaaggagcagacgatatggcgtcgctccctgcag SEQ ID No. 5) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene.

[0466] 2 repetitions (Figure XXXIVa)

[0467] 6 repetitions (Figure XXXV)

[0468] 12 repetitions (Figure XXX)

[0469] The promoter used may be that of CMV or EF1 (Figure XXX) but other promoters may be used. The sequence of interest may be a DNA coding a reporter protein such as native Firefly Luciferase (Figure XXXIVa), a green (ZsGreenl), red (mCherry) or blue (mtBFP) fluorescent protein (Figure XXXIVb), or a cDNA coding a protein, for example the CRE protein. The sequence of interest may also be that of an shRNA, an miRNA, an sgRNA, an LncRNA or of an circRNA.

[0470] Encapsidation plasmid: The lentiviral particle was modified to contain the Coat protein sequence of the bacteriophage PP7 within the nucleocapsid protein, instead of and in place of the second Zn finger domain The p8.74 encapsidation plasmid, carrier of the genes coding the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), used for the production of the PP7RLP particles is modified according to the strategy illustrated by Figure XXXI: this p8.74 plasmid is used to generate, by PCR assembly, a plasmid lacking the second zinc finger of the p8.74ΔZF nucleocapsid protein. The second zinc finger is substituted by the Coat protein of the phage PP7 by HpaI cloning, to generate the p8.74ΔZF-PP7-Coat plasmid. The construction illustrated in Figure XXXII is thereby obtained. The sequence coding Pol may be deleted or mutated in some functional elements for example such as the sequence coding the reverse transcriptase (RT) or the integrase (IN) without altering the function of the PP7RLPs.

[0471] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid carries the gene coding an envelope protein, which may be the VSVG coding the envelope protein of the Vesicular stomatitis virus (Figure IV).

1.2 Plasmids for the Production of MS2(NC)-RLP Luc 12× Lentiviral Particles

[0472] The plasmids used are identical to those used in Example 1.

[0473] 2. Production, Concentration/Purification and Titration of the Lentiviral Particles

[0474] The lentiviral particles are produced as described in Example 1, in accordance with the P1 method.

[0475] 3. Expression Kinetics for Luciferase

[0476] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by the PP7(NC)-RLP-Luc-2×, 6×, 12× particles produced in accordance with the P1 method is carried out at a dose of 10 pg p24/cell, in the presence of 8 μg/mL Polybrene®. The transduction supernatant is eliminated 4 hours after and replaced by fresh supplemented growth medium. At 4h, 8h, 24h, 32h, and 48h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the Luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). This test is carried out in triplicate. The control is carried out by non-transduced HCT116 cells.

[0477] II. Results

[0478] The results are presented in Figure XXXVI. The objective of this assay is to show the impact of the modifications of the number of repeated motifs of the PP7 sequence on the encapsidation capacity and thus on the transfer of RNA into target cells, at several given times. The PP7(NC)-RLP particles comprising the PP7 motif repeated 2 times, 6 times or 12 times enabling the transfer of RNA in proportions comparable to those obtained withy MS2(NC)-RLP particles comprising the MS2 motif 12 times. The PP7(NC)-RLP particles are thus effective for delivering RNAs whatever the number of repeated motifs used. According to the type of application the number of repetitions could therefore be adapted. The results show that, in the conditions of the assay, the PP7(NC)-RLP particles comprising the PP7 motif repeated 2 times or 6 times enable more effective transfer of RNA than that obtained by the use of MS2(NC)-RLP particles comprising the MS2 motif 12 times. The expression kinetics of the Luciferase presents an increase in the luminescence signal from 4h to 8h, showing that in the case of a protein with a short life, the maximum expression is attained early, whatever the number of motifs of the PP7 sequence that are repeated. After 24h, the Luciferase activity diminishes, until at 32h and 48h it attains a luminescence signal 4 to 5 less intense than for the condition 8h post-transduction.

EXAMPLE 8: CONSTRUCTION OF PP7(IN)-RLP LENTIVIRAL PARTICLES BY MODIFYING THE INTEGRASE AND TEST FOR THE NUMBER OF REPETITIONS OF THE STEM-LOOP MOTIF OF THE PP7 RNA

[0479] I. Equipment and Methods

[0480] 1. Plasmid Construction

[0481] Expression plasmid for a sequence of interest: The expression plasmid bears a promoter-sequence of interest-polyA expression cassette (see Figure XXX) with or without an RNA stabilizing or intronic sequence. In order to transport the mRNAs into the lentiviral particles, several repetitions of the stem-loop motif of the PP7 RNA (ctagaaggagcagacgatatggcgtcgctccctgcag SEQ ID No. 5) were inserted inside an expression cassette downstream of the reporter gene.

[0482] 2 repetitions (Figure XXXIVa)

[0483] 6 repetitions (Figure XXXV)

[0484] 12 repetitions (Figure XXX)

[0485] The promoter used may be that of CMV or EF1 (Figure XXX) but other promoters may be used. The sequence of interest may be a DNA coding a reporter protein such as native Firefly Luciferase (Figure XXXIVa), a green (ZsGreenl), red (mCherry) or blue (mtBFP) fluorescent protein (Figure XXXIVb), or a cDNA coding a protein, for example the CRE protein (Figure XXXIVc). The sequence of interest may also be that of an shRNA, an miRNA, an sgRNA, an LncRNA or of an circRNA.

[0486] Encapsidation plasmid: The lentiviral particle was modified to contain within the integrase, the sequence of the Coat protein of the bacteriophage PP7. The p8.74 encapsidation plasmid, carrier of the genes coding the structural and functional proteins (Gag, Pol), used for the production of the PP7(IN)-RLP particles is modified according to the strategy illustrated by Figure XXXVII: this p8.74 plasmid is used to generate, by PCR assembly, a plasmid on which the Coat protein of the phage PP7 is merged with the C-terminal domain of the integrase. This merging, obtained by HpaI cloning, makes it possible to generate the Coat p8.74-POL-MS2 plasmid. The construction illustrated in Figure XXXVIII is thereby obtained. The Pol coding sequence may be deleted or mutated in certain functional elements for example such as the sequence coding reverse transcriptase (RT).

[0487] Envelope plasmid (pENV): This plasmid carries the gene coding an envelope protein, which may be the VSVG coding the envelope protein of the Vesicular stomatitis virus (Figure IV).

[0488] 2. Production, Concentration/Purification and Titration of the Lentiviral Particles

[0489] The lentiviral particles are produced as described in Example 1, in accordance with the P1 method.

[0490] 3. Expression Kinetics for Luciferase

[0491] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 96-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% CO2. The transduction by the PP7(IN)-RLP-Luc-2×, 6×, 12× particles produced in accordance with the P1 method is carried out at a dose of 2.8 pg p24/cell, in the presence of 8 μg/mL Polybrene®. The transduction supernatant is eliminated 4 hours after and replaced by fresh supplemented growth medium. At 4h, 8h, 24h, 32h, and 48h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the expression of the Luciferase is analyzed using the kit OneGlo Luciferase assay (Promega) following the recommendations of the supplier and using the Synergy H1 Hybrid microplate reader (Biotek). This test is carried out in triplicate. The control is carried out by non-transduced HCT116 cells.

[0492] II. Results

[0493] The results are presented in Figure XXXIX. The objective of this assay is to verify that it is possible to transport RNAs into the lentiviral particles with PP7-Coat in the integrase and to show the impact of the modifications of the number of repeated motifs of the PP7 sequence on the encapsidation capacity and thus on the transfer of RNA into target cells at several given times. The maximum expression of Luciferase is attained at 8h, whatever the number of repeated motifs of the PP7 sequence. After 8h the Luciferase activity diminishes, whatever the number of repeated motifs of the PP7 sequence, and the difference in Luciferase activity between the different numbers of repeated motifs is not statistically significant. The PP7(IN)-RLP particles therefore enable RNAs to be delivered.

EXAMPLE 9: TRANSFER OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT RNAS BY SINGLE TRANSDUCTION WITH PP7RLP PARTICLES

[0494] I. Equipment and Methods

[0495] 1. Mono- and Tri-Transduction

[0496] This example is conducted using PP7RLP particles or ILV vectors enabling either the transfer of a single type of RNA enabling the expression of a single protein (ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP), or the transfer of several types of RNA enabling the expression of several different proteins (ZsGreenl+mCherry+mtBFP).

[0497] The PP7RLP particles and the integrating lentiviral vectors ILV are produced in the following conditions: [0498] The particles were produced by transfection of HEK293T cells, with a single expression plasmid coding either ZsGreenl, or mCherry, or mtBFP (as is described in Example 1), in addition to the encapsidation and envelope plasmids, [0499] The particles are produced by transfection of HEK293T cells with three expression plasmids respectively coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP added in equimolar amount, for a total amount of expression plasmids equivalent to the total amount of expression plasmids used for particle production with a single expression plasmid, in addition to the encapsidation and envelope plasmids.

[0500] The HCT116 particles were transduced by the PP7RLP particles either: [0501] by transduction with 3 types of PP7RLP particles, ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP independently, or by co-transduction of the 3 types of PP7RLP particles at the same time. [0502] by mono-transduction with the particles produced with the three expression plasmids coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP simultaneously.

[0503] In parallel, HCT116 cells are transduced by ILV vectors either: [0504] by transduction with 3 types of ILV vectors, ZsGreenl, mCherry or mtBFP independently, or by co-transduction of the 3 types of ILV particles at the same time. [0505] by mono-transduction with the ILV vectors produced with the three expression plasmids coding ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP simultaneously.

[0506] The percentage of fluorescent cells was quantified by flow cytometry.

[0507] HCT116 cells (ATCC, CCL-247) are seeded in 24-well plates and incubated for 24h at 37° C./5% 002. The transduction by PP7RLP particles or the ILV vectors is carried out in the presence of 8 μg/mL Polybrene. At 24h post-transduction, the cells are harvested and the percentage of cells expressing the ZsGreenl, the mCherry and the mtBFP is quantified by cytometry (Macs Quant VYB, Miltenyi Biotec). A cell defense inhibitor mechanism, BX795 (InvivoGen), is used at a concentration of 6 μM. Each assay is carried out in triplicate.

[0508] II. Results

[0509] 1. Capacity to Transfer Several Different RNAs in a Single Transduction with PP7RLP Particles in Comparison with ILV

[0510] The objective of the following assays is to demonstrate the capacity of the PP7RLP particles to transfer several different RNAs into target cells, so making it possible to reduce the number of transductions on the target cells. Thus it becomes possible to transfer several different RNAs in a single transduction rather than to have to perform one transduction per RNA species. For this, purified batches of PP7RLP particles were generated under optimum conditions defined in Example 1, that is to say purified batches, produced without serum, according to method P1 of Example 1 described in application WO 2013/014537. In the production phase of the PP7RLP particles, three types of plasmids coding for fluorescent reporters were used simultaneously in equimolar amounts (ZsGreenl, mCherry and mtBFP), with the encapsidation and envelope plasmids, in order to obtain a batch of PP7RLP particles comprising several different types of RNA. The HCT116 cells were then transduced in the presence of BX795, and the transfer of the different RNAs is observed at 24h post-transduction.

[0511] Figure XL illustrates the proportion of tri-fluorescent cells in the green, the red and the blue, after a single transduction of HCT116 cells by PP7RLP particles at two different doses (10 pg p24/cell and 30 pg p24/cell), or after three simultaneous transductions of PP7RLP particles expressing ZsGreenl or mCherry or mtBFP produced according to Example 1, at a final dose of 30 pg p24/cell.

[0512] 88% of the cells are tri-fluorescent when they are transduced at a dose of 30 pg p24/cell with the PP7RLP batch containing particles carrying the 3 RNA species, whereas only 1% of the cells are fluorescent when they are transduced by the batch of ILV vectors obtained by co-transfection of the 3 batch each containing a different fluorescent protein.

[0513] The results thus show that the PP7RLP particles are capable of transporting and transferring at least 3 types of RNA in a single transduction of the target cells. These particles enable the transfer of multiple RNAs much more effectively than with the ILV vector.

[0514] The transduction of cells by multiple RNAs is thus much more effective and simpler with the PP7RLP particles than with ILV, for a result that is greater by at least 70%.

[0515] 91% of the cells are tri-fluorescent when they are transduced simultaneously at a total dose of 30 pg p24/cell with the 3 separate batches of PP7RLP each containing a single RNA species. The comparison of the effectiveness of the simultaneous expression of several transgenes in mono-transduction or multi-transductions shows an equivalent effectiveness for the PP7RLP vector (88% vs 91% respectively).

[0516] This effectiveness thus makes it possible to reduce the multiplicity of infection relative to the use of batches of particles produced independently. The risk of cell toxicity is considerably reduced thereby. This makes it possible not to compromise the viability of the target cells both by too great a number of transductions and by placing the cells in contact with too high a quantity of particles.