Magnetically activatable viral genome editing integrates antiviral sensing with checkpoint disruption for localized combination immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint blockade can elicit durable tumor regression, yet its therapeutic window is constrained by limited coordination of immunomodulation within tumors and systemic immune perturbation. In vivo genome editing offers a programmable route to durable immunomodulation but has not been integrated with tumor-intrinsic immune regulation in a spatially controlled manner. Here we engineer a magnetically activatable baculoviral genome-editing system that spatially confines CRISPR activity while harnessing intrinsic antiviral sensing to reprogram the tumor microenvironment. Magnetic activation induces localized disruption of <i>Pdl1</i> . Baculoviral transduction triggers interferon responses that promote antigen presentation and immune-cell recruitment while simultaneously driving compensatory PD-L1 upregulation that restrains effector function. Local CRISPR-mediated <i>Pdl1</i> disruption eliminates this inhibitory feedback, coupling innate immune amplification with sustained checkpoint blockade in a single system. In a syngeneic colon cancer model, magnetically activated vectors restrict <i>Pdl1</i> editing to tumors without detectable editing in major organs, suppress tumor growth, and extend survival. Together, these findings define a genome-editing architecture that integrates spatial confinement with durable immune amplification for localized combination immunotherapy.
Authors
- Zhongchao Yi
- Xiaoyue Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9331-0512)
- Yidan Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9702-8530)
- Daheng He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0399-2466)
- Ying Liang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-5472)
- Chi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0279-3265)
- Sheng Tong
- Jin Huang
- Jinpeng Liu
- Laura Tong
Institutions
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
- New York Blood Center (US)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Markey Cancer Center (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
- Published
- 2026-01-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.14.699490
- Primary Topic
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00