Rapid Surface Display of mRNA Antigens by Bacteria-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles for a Personalized Tumor Vaccine

Therapeutic mRNA vaccination is an attractive approach to trigger antitumor immunity. However, the mRNA delivery technology for customized tumor vaccine is still limited. In this work, bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are employed as an mRNA delivery platform by genetically engineering with surface decoration of RNA binding protein, L7Ae, and lysosomal escape protein, listeriolysin O (OMV-LL). OMV-LL can rapidly adsorb box C/D sequence-labelled mRNA antigens through L7Ae binding (OMV-LL-mRNA) and deliver them into dendritic cells (DCs), following by the cross-presentation via listeriolysin O-mediated endosomal escape. OMV-LL-mRNA significantly inhibits melanoma progression and elicits 37.5% complete regression in a colon cancer model. OMV-LL-mRNA induces a long-term immune memory and protects the mice from tumor challenge after 60 days. In summary, this platform provides a delivery technology distinct from lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for personalized mRNA tumor vaccination, and with a Plug-and-Display strategy that enables its versatile application in mRNA vaccines.

Automated summary

This study utilized bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) as a delivery platform for mRNA, genetically modified to deliver specific mRNA antigens into dendritic cells, triggering anti-tumor immune responses. The results showed that this platform significantly inhibited tumor progression and achieved 37.5% complete regression in an in vivo model.