Custom vectors

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Our Open Innovation process is designed to boost your R&D, on whichever areas you are working. We already have a few subjects for which we have developped expertise: RNA interferenceTransgenesisCAR T-cellsOptogenetics, and CRISPR gene editing. But with each client come new challenges, that we are more than happy to take. This keeps us in a constant innvation process, making our services better an better. Below is a detailed description of the steps we follow to help our customers with their projects. Don’t hesitate to bring us your challenge!

1 — Identify Your Needs and Constraints

Custom vectors -

Each client’s innovation challenges are unique. In many cases, high expression vectors are required. Other factors can play a critical role, such as targeting, inducible systems, likelihood of success, or cargo capacity.

We will walk you through the expression and definition of your needs and objectives and take your scientific, budgetary, time or resources constraints into account.

Our scientific team may suggest several vectorization strategies, based on our experience. Once the strategy is defined, our team will design an optimised solution to acheive optimum transgene expression in the target context.

2 — Design of the Perfect Tool

Custom vectors -

The specificity of transgene delivery by lentiviral vector is the result of a combination of several elements, such as:

  • The envelop glycoprotein, which defines the nature of the cells which the particle will enter
  • The transcriptional elements, which determine in which cells the transgene will be transcripted
  • The post transcriptional elements, which determine in which cells the mRNA will be translated.

We play with these parameters to obtain the perfect combination displaying the most specific tropism for your particular application.
The basic lentiviral vector is integrative, which is perfect if you are looking for long-term expression in dividing or non-dividing cells. However, if your project requires transient expression of the transgene, you might want to turn to other possibilities: integrase-deficient LV or mRNA vectors. According to your very particular needs, one or the other might be more suitable.

3 – DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION

Custom vectors -

Once you have validated the proposed solution, the technical work begins.

Plasmid construction:
We can either use your pre-existing plasmids, or build them from scratch. In that case, the process depends on your needs and constraints: cloning strategies are chosen according to your project, and adapted to the specificities of your R&D.

In all cases, the constructions are submitted to several quality controls.

Vector production:
The GEG-tech production platform is equipped with advanced equipment, from L1 to L3 confinements laboratories. Production protocols are the result of years of experience and thousands of stocks have been produced. Multiple checkpoints during the production allow high quality and efficiency.

Depending on the future use of the vectors, various levels of purification and concentration can be chosen.

4 – QUALITY CHECK

Custom vectors -

All along the way, multiple checkpoints are validated to make sure that the final product is entirely satisfying. At the very end of the process comes titration.

The titering method of lentiviral vector is a very tricky point, getting more and more complex as the technology evolves.

Some methods are based on determining the number of physical particles using the amount of capsid protein (p24 concentration). While this method gives you information of interest for in vivo use (will my vector induce toxicity or high immune reaction due to a high p24 concentration?), this is poorly reproducible and barely informative regarding the transduction capacity of the vector.

Titering methods based on transduction efficiency are thus increasingly developed, relying on transgene expression measurement or on the detection of the vector genome in the transduced cells. However, this transduction efficiency is highly dependent on a combination of numerous parameters such as the cell type, envelope, promoter and transgene that are used. In addition, transduction enhancers, such as polybren, DEAE dextran or sodium butyrate, are often used. Consequently, the titer determined by the provider will not necessarily reflect what you can obtain in your lab with your experimental conditions.  In addition, you will hardly compare vectors with different promoters or different envelopes.

To prevent these inconveniences, we have developed a particular titering method that does not require transduction while not being subjected to p24 titration variabilities. Based on an RT-qPCR assay, the RNA titer enables us to quantify the amount of active particles in the concentrated stock. This assay is highly reproducible and can be related to transduction efficiency. Plus, it does not depend on any of the specificities of the vectors, which allows comparison between vectors and facilitates normalization of vectors quantities.