Engineered 293TT Cells for TTV Replication and Virus Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

The ubiquity and heterogeneity of Torque teno viruses (TTVs) have hindered efforts to associate them with disease pathogenesis due to the lack of suitable in vitro culture systems and the difficulty in achieving long-term replication and virus production, making it challenging to investigate their role in cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Innovation Solution

The development of a system for in vitro replication and transcription of TTV isolates using the human embryonic kidney cell line 293TT engineered to express high levels of SV-40 large T antigen, allowing for the propagation of full-length genomes and the characterization of subviral molecules, which can replicate autonomously and infect virus-free cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional cell lines are used for TTV replication, then in vitro transcription can be investigated, but long term replication leading to virus production cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of TTV replicationVSAvoidreliability of virus production
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the cell line parameters by engineering 293TT cells to express high levels of SV40 large T antigen, fundamentally changing the cellular environment to support sustained TTV replication and virus production, resolving the contradiction between replication duration and production reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If TTV infection studies are conducted, then insights into disease pathogenesis can be obtained, but the ubiquity and heterogeneity of TTVs hinder association with specific diseases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about disease pathogenesisVSAvoidspecificity of disease association
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the TTV research by isolating and characterizing specific TTV isolates (TTV-HD1a, TTV-HD3a, TTV-HD16a) from different disease contexts, allowing individual isolate-study approaches that can identify disease-specific associations while maintaining the ability to study universal TTV mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If subviral molecules are characterized, then autonomous replication capability can be demonstrated, but the complexity of identifying and analyzing multiple isolates increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of subviral molecule analysisVSAvoidcomplexity of isolate characterization system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a universal in vitro system using 293TT cells that can handle multiple TTV isolates and subviral molecules simultaneously, providing a multi-functional platform that simplifies the analysis of diverse TTV variants while maintaining the capability to study their specific properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the study of TTVs' role in cancer and autoimmune diseases by facilitating the replication and propagation of TTV genomes and subviral molecules, providing insights into their potential involvement in disease pathogenesis and offering novel approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.

Implementation Method 1

the human embryonic kidney cell line 293TT engineered to express high levels of SV-40 large T antigen, allowing for the propagation of full-length genomes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViral replication:

Implementation Method 2

capable of replicating autonomously upon transfection in 293TT cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTranscription:

Data Source

PatentEP2585477B1Rearranged tt virus molecules for use in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer and autoimmunity
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 DEUTES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENT STIFTUNG DES OFFENTLICHEN RECHTS
  • EP2585477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2585477B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2585477B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described are rearranged molecules of (a) a specific TT virus sequence and (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide showing homology to mammalian proteins associated with cancer and autoimmune diseases that are capable of replicating autonomously for use in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases like cancer and autoimmunity.