Engineered bacteria-mediated delivery of RNA origami for cancer immunotherapy

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Friedrich Simmel
• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Biochemistry
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566915659

We aim to develop a platform for the synthesis and delivery of RNA origami nanostructures as potential immunotherapeutic agents using engineered bacteria. These bacteria will express the RNA origami gene and undergo lysis, releasing their cargo in response to specific environmental cues. The expression of RNA origami structures will be dynamically regulated by de novo-designed riboswitches, ensuring precise control in tumor microenvironments for enhanced delivery specificity. Once released, these RNA nanostructures will exhibit adjuvant properties, stimulating CD8⁺ T cells and NK cells to induce a robust and long-lasting anti-tumor immune response. By integrating RNA nanostructure design tools with a controlled production and delivery platform for live biotherapeutics, this approach presents a novel targeted strategy for anti-tumor immunotherapy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: South Korea
• Partner Organisation: National Research Foundation of Korea, NRF
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jongmin Kim