Cloning and expression system for T-cell receptors

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 12297427
  • Patent Number
    12,297,427
  • Date Filed
    Friday, December 2, 2016
    8 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 13, 2025
    2 months ago
Abstract
The invention provides a method for rapid cloning of T-cell receptors (TCRs) (e.g., paired αβ and γδ TCR chains) and B-cell receptors (BCRs) (e.g. paired IgH or IgK or Igλ) from single cells by CDR3 substitution using single cell PCR products and Gibson Assembly techniques and a pre-generated TCR (or BCR) library in an expression vector.
Description
SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Nov. 30, 2016, is named 243734_000082_SL.TXT and is 76,261 bytes in size.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to methods for rapid cloning and expression of T-cell receptors (TCRs) and B-cell receptors (BCRs) and their use for drug screening, structural and functional studies and other applications. More particularly, the invention provides a method for rapid cloning of TCRs (e.g., paired αβ and γδ TCR chains) or BCRs (e.g., paired IgH or Igκ or Igλ) from single cells by CDR3 substitution using single cell PCR products and Gibson Assembly techniques and a pre-generated TCR (or BCR) library in an expression vector.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

T cells play a vital role in the control of viral infections and tumors. T cells are activated by antigen presenting cells via interactions between peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) and TCRs. This interaction can induce proliferation and the development of effector functions, including cytokine production and cytotoxic activity. T cells can also infiltrate infected or transformed tissues, e.g. as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), to perform these effector functions1,2. However, in some chronic viral infections and tumors, responding effector T cells progressively get exhausted and become dysfunctional3,4,5. In addition, control of tumors and/or infection may require large numbers of highly reactive lymphocytes that cannot be achieved due to normal tolerance mechanisms. One effective method to overcome this barrier is the use of therapeutic adoptive transfer of lymphocytes2,6,7.


Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes such as in vitro expanded or TCR-engineered antigen specific T cells has been successfully used to control viruses and tumors in patients8,9,10,11,12. In vitro expansion of viral or tumor-specific T cells require significant time to prepare and the targets are not usually fully characterized. Lymphocytes expressing engineered TCRs and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) target specific antigens, with CARs recognizing surface antigens through immunoglobulin-type interactions10,13 and TCRs recognizing tumor-associated pMHC complexes. CAR therapy directed against surface antigens requires a tumor-associated antigen that can be universally targeted (even on healthy, non-tumor tissue) without significant toxicity. Tumor-specific antigens that are targeted by TCRs represent an attractive alternative that can provide greater specificity and reduce non-tumor associated toxicities14,15,16. Additionally, engineered T cells expressing high-affinity antigen receptors can be conditioned to overcome immune tolerance, which has been a major limitation for immunotherapy14,15,17. Apart from the clinical applications, a robust system for the cloning and expression of TCRs is a valuable tool for the investigation of TCR structure and functions18,19,20.


Techniques to rapidly profile and clone antigen-specific TCRs have improved and shortened the process of TCR-engineered immunotherapy21,22. These approaches are useful contributions to the field and are able to handle large cell inputs very effectively. However, for certain applications, the reported methods still have some limitations. First, approaches that rely on deep sequencing and cloning of bulk sorted cells can still be limited by target cell numbers. In contrast, single cell approaches can utilize input sizes starting with a single cell but are less efficient at dealing with high cell number inputs (greater than 10,000 cells). As a result, single cell methods are best directed at defined samples such as antigen-specific responses or tissue-associated infiltrating cells. Second, for bulk sorting, pairing of TCR chains requires algorithmic imputation, which can have difficulty dealing with cells expressing two distinct TCR chains of one type (e.g. two TCRα chains), which are quite common. A recently reported algorithm has addressed this concern by pairing bulk processed TCRs using barcoded pools of cells 23. However, this method requires relatively large inputs to successfully pair and would likely not be appropriate for very small sample sizes as might be obtained from tissue biopsies or tetramer sorting of small populations.


Third, while currently reported methods are able to generate full length receptors either by synthesis or by 5′ RACE-associated approaches at the single cell level, these methods require expansion of the isolated cells prior to TCR isolation, which likely causes bias in the TCR repertoire in the subsequent analyses and/or can reduce efficiency. Lastly, the majority of antiviral and antitumor adoptive therapy has focused on αβ T cell clones due to their exquisite antigen specificity. However, γδ cells have also been shown to mediate antiviral and antitumor effects and are novel candidates for therapeutic development24,25.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To date, there is little research about profiling and utilizing the TCRγδ repertoire for therapeutic purposes. Applying γδ T cells for immunotherapeutic applications may be a promising future approach in conjunction with traditional TCRαβ techniques. Therefore, it is important to establish a system to define the repertoire and functional activity for γδ T cells. Additionally, improving efficiencies for cloning αβ TCRs from single cells may have complementary uses in the lab and in the clinic.


There is a great need in the art to develop a rapid, efficient and accurate cloning and expression method and/or system for specific TCRs, and uses thereof for screening TCR-mediated therapeutics, as well as for other research and/or clinical applications. The present invention fulfils such needs, and provides such methods and platforms.


In one aspect, the invention provides a method for cloning a T cell receptor (TCR) from a single T cell, wherein said method comprises:

    • (a) performing RT-PCR with a primer mixture on a single T cell to obtain paired αβ or γδ TCR CDR3 DNA sequences comprising a partial variable (V) region, CDR3 region, and a partial constant (C) region,
    • (b) optionally sequencing the RT-PCR product obtained in step (a), and
    • (c) cloning the αβ or γδ TCR CDR3 DNA sequences obtained in step (a) into a corresponding TCRαβ or TCRγδ library.


In one embodiment, said T cell is a human or a mouse αβ or γδ T cell.


In one embodiment, the method comprises sorting of single T cells prior to step (a). In one specific embodiment, T cells are not stimulated prior to sorting.


In one embodiment, the primer mixture comprises sense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma variable (TRGV) sequences and/or T cell receptor delta variable (TRDV) sequences and antisense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma constant (TRGC) sequences and/or T-cell receptor delta constant (TRDC) sequences. In one specific embodiment, the primer mixture comprises 9 TRGV and 8 TRDV sense primers and single TRGC and TRDC antisense primers. In another specific embodiment, the primer mixture comprises 5 external and 5 internal TRGV and 13 external and 13 internal TRDV sense primers and single TRGC and TRDC antisense primers. In one embodiment, the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers listed in Table 1. In one embodiment, the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers listed in Table 6.


In one embodiment, the single cell RT-PCR of γδ or αβ TCR and sequencing are performed within not more than 2 days.


In one embodiment, the method further comprises cloning the resulting αβ or γδ TCR CDR3 DNA sequences into the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library constructed using the method described below.


In a related aspect, the invention provides a method for constructing a TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library in an expression vector, comprising:

    • (a) synthesizing multiple pairs of TRGV and TRDV DNA fragments or TRAV and TRBV DNA fragments with a 15-25 bp overlap to the vector sequence based on the amplified sequence of the TRGV/TRDV or TRAV/TRBV pairings, respectively, and
    • (b) performing a two- or three-way ligation with a linearized expression vector.


In one embodiment of the above library construction method, the expression vector is a retroviral or lentiviral expression vector. In one embodiment, the ligation in step (b) is performed using Gibson Assembly Cloning techniques. In one specific embodiment, Gibson Assembly Cloning techniques are optimized to clone synthesized TRGV/TRAV and TRDV/TRBV DNA fragments using g-blocks or other synthesized DNA fragments (e.g., long primers that are then annealed). In one embodiment, the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library is constructed after a single-cell amplification and synthesized paired TRGV/TRDV or TRAV/TRBV receptors based on the sequence data. In one embodiment, the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library is constructed in 5 to 10 days. In one embodiment, the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library is used for drug screening or identification of TCRαβ- and/or TCRγδ-specific ligands.


In one embodiment of the above library construction, the method comprises substituting CDR3 regions of the existing clones in the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library with (i) products of RT-PCR performed using a primer mixture on a single T cell to obtain paired αβ or γδ TCR CDR3 DNA sequences comprising a partial variable (V) region, CDR3 region, and a partial constant (C) region and (ii) a linker DNA for overlap extension of PCR cloning. In one specific embodiment, said T cell is a human or a mouse αβ or γδ T cell. In one specific embodiment, the method comprises sorting of single T cells prior to RT-PCR. In one specific embodiment, T cells are not stimulated prior to sorting. In one specific embodiment, the primer mixture comprises sense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma variable (TRGV) and/or T cell receptor delta variable (TRDV) and antisense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma constant (TRGC) and/or T-cell receptor delta constant (TRDC) sequences. In one specific embodiment, the primer mixture comprises 9 TRGV and 8 TRDV sense primers and single TRGC and TRDC antisense primers. In one specific embodiment, the primer mixture comprises 5 external and 5 internal TRGV and 13 external and 13 internal TRDV sense primers and single TRGC and TRDC antisense primers. In one specific embodiment, the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers listed in Table 1. In one specific embodiment, the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers listed in Table 6. In one specific embodiment, said linkers are overlapping with the non-variant sequences of the TCRα/γ and TCRβ/δ single cell RT-PCR products. In one specific embodiment, said linker sequences are selected from those listed in Table 3. In one specific embodiment, the resulting TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ chains with CDR3 substitutions are used for T cell-mediated immunotherapy.


In a related aspect, the invention provides a TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library constructed using any of the above methods. In another related aspect, the invention provides a host cell (e.g., a Nur-77-GFP Jurkat 76 cell or a Nur-77-Luciferase Jurkat 76 cell) comprising said TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library construct.


In another aspect, the invention provides a method for cloning a B cell receptor (BCR) from a single B cell, wherein said method comprises:

    • (a) performing RT-PCR with a primer mixture on a single B cell to obtain paired IgH or Igκ or Igλ CDR3 DNA sequences comprising a partial variable (V) region, CDR3 region, and a partial constant (C) region,
    • (b) optionally sequencing the RT-PCR product obtained in step (a), and
    • (c) cloning the IgH or Igκ or Igλ CDR3 DNA sequences obtained in step (a) into a corresponding BCR library.


In one embodiment, said B cell is a human or a mouse B cell. In one embodiment, the method comprises sorting of single B cells prior to step (a).


These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in the following description, claims and drawings.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1A shows a schematic of unbiased single-cell amplification of paired TCR CDR3 regions. Overview of the multiplex PCR protocol to amplify and sequence paired TCR CDR3 α/γ and CDR3 β/δ. After sorting single human αβ or γδ T cells into a 96-well plate, reverse transcription is performed to obtain single-cell cDNA. Taking human γδ T cells as an example, a first round of PCR is performed by using an external primer mixture of 9 TRGV and 8 TRDV sense and single TRGC and TRDC antisense primers following RT-PCR. The first-round PCR products are subjected to two separate second-round PCRs using a corresponding internal primers mix (9 sense TRGV, single antisense TRGC, and 8 sense TRDV, single antisense TRDC, respectively). The timeline of this process is shown on the left.



FIG. 1B shows an agarose gel electrophoresis image of TCR segments containing CDR3γ and CDR3δ is shown. Paired CDR3γ and CDR3δ products from the same cell were loaded in adjacent lanes. Negative control PCR reactions are shown in the boxed region and in the ladder lane, a 500 bp label is shown.



FIG. 1C shows the determination of paired TRGV/TRDV usage by multiplex PCR and sequencing (n=14 human apheresis rings), with the percentage of different TRGV/TRDV usage in each sample assessed (mean±SEM).



FIG. 2A shows a schematic of rapid cloning and expression of human TCRαβ or TCRγδ in a retroviral vector. A schematic diagram of TCR cloning using gBlock® synthesized DNA fragments and a linearized retroviral vector (pMICherry) is shown. Family specific TRGV and TRDV full length TCR chains were synthesized with a 15-20 bp overlap sequence (light diagonal line shading) in the 2A region. Together with a linearized pMICherry expression vector, a three-way ligation is performed by using Gibson Assembly® Cloning. The timeline of this process is presented on the left.



FIG. 2B shows expression of TCR constructs in the Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line. The vectors with human TRGV9/TRDV2 TCR genes and human influenza-specific TCRαβ genes were co-transfected with the human CD3 construct into the Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line. The flow cytometry results of transfected cells are shown.



FIG. 3A illustrates how Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRαβcells can report the TCR signaling activation. Following co-transfection of a murine KbPB1703-specific TCRαβ derived from influenza-infected mice and a mouse CD3 construct, the KbPB1703+TCRαβ+ NJ76 cells (PB1-NJ76) were stimulated either with influenza PB1703 peptide alone or PB1703 peptide-pulsed splenotytes for 4 hrs. Anti-mouse CD3/α-human CD28 stimulation was also done as a positive control. The GFP expression was assessed by flow cytometry.


In FIG. 3B, the quantification of GFP expression in PB1-NJ76 cells is shown. Statistical differences were determined by One-way ANOVA.


In FIG. 3C, the transfected human TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells were pulsed with zoledronic acid (50 ug/ml) for 3 h at 37° C., and washed and incubated at 37° C. for 12 h. The GFP expression of stimulated NJ76 cells, non-stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 and stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells with zoledronic acid is shown in the top panel. Fold change of GFP expression in stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells with zoledronic acid compared to non-stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 is shown as a time course in the bottom panel. Statistical differences were determined by Two-way ANOVA; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data are mean±SEM of two independent experiments. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001, n.s. non-significant.



FIG. 4 shows a schematic strategy of CDR3 substitution by overlap extension PCR. Based on the library of TCRαβ and TCRγδ established by the described cloning platform, the strategy for CDR3 substitution using multiplex single cell PCR products and linker DNA is shown. After the sequence analysis of single-cell PCR (shown in FIG. 1A), the target pairs of TCRs are chosen from the respective second round paired PCR plates, which include TCRα/γm and TCRβ/βn (m represents a particular TRAV or TRGV subfamily; n represents a particular TRBV or TRDV subfamily). Beforehand, we generated a library of linker DNA by gBlock synthesis (IDT) (Table 3). The linker DNA consists of TRAC/TRGC-2A-TRBVn/TRDVn (n represents the TRB/DV subfamily) sequence. Using the single cell PCR products of α/γ and β/δ chains of the desired clonotypes and the relevant linker gBlock DNA, we carried out an overlap PCR with TRAm/GVm internal sense primer and TRB/DC internal antisense primer. The PCR products were visualized on an agarose gel, and subsequently purified to use as “mega-primer” for cloning into the existing construct from our TCR cloning library (pMIC-TCRα/γm-TCR β/δn) with the same TRGV and TRDV family usage but different CDR3s by overlap extension PCR. The timeline of the whole process is on the left.



FIGS. 5A and 5B depict the time lines of the two cloning platforms.



FIGS. 6A-6C show co-transfection of human CD3 can improve the expression of human TCR constructs. FIGS. 6A and 6B show a comparison of single transfection of human TCR constructs and co-transfection of human TCR constructs and human CD3. FIG. 6C shows quantification of mCherry/ametrine and TCR/CD3 expression is shown. Statistical differences were determined by One-way ANOVA; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data are mean±SEM of two independent experiments. ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001.



FIG. 7 shows a gating strategy of TCR-transfected-NJ76 cells in flow cytometry. The data of TCR-transfected-NJ76 cells after stimulation in FIGS. 3A-3C were analyzed by applying the gating strategy to all the samples. The gating is flowing “autofluorescence gate−lymphocytes gate−single cell gate−mCherry+Ametrine+ gate−TCR+CD3+ gate−GFP+ gate”.



FIG. 8 shows a gating strategy of Human TCRγ/δ+ CD3+ cells single cell sorting. Single cells of human TCRγδ+ CD3+ cells from PBMC samples were sorted into 96-well plate by applying the gating strategy of FIG. 7, above. The gating is flowing “autofluorescence gate−lymphocytes gate−single cell gate−live/dead gate−dump gate (CD11b/14/19)−TCRγδ+/CD3+ gate”.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rapid, efficient and accurate cloning and expression method and system for specific TCRs (e.g., paired αβ and γδ TCR chains from single cells) which can be used for drug screening (e.g., for T cell-mediated anti-tumor or anti-infective immunotherapy), for structuring and functional analysis of TCRs, and other applications. The invention addresses the non-specific, labor-intensive and time-consuming issues of prior PCR-based cloning methods and provides a high-throughput, accurate and efficient method of TCR engineering for therapeutic and research applications.


In conjunction with single cell multiplex PCR techniques for TCRαβ or TCRγδ profiling26,27, and Gibson Assembly® cloning of synthesized DNA, the invention provides rapid sequencing and cloning of specific TCRs in an expression vector (e.g., retroviral expression vector). By generating TCR libraries, the invention provides a cloning and expression method and system that is significantly accelerated by only requiring the substitution of the CDR3 region, resulting in TCR clones in appropriate expression vectors in as little as five days after cell isolation. The invention provides highly robust, inexpensive, efficient, and high-throughput means for TCR engineering for therapeutic and research applications.


In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method of single-cell amplification of paired TCR CDR3 α/γ and CDR3 β/δ regions comprising the steps of (a) sorting of single human αβ or γδ T cells; (b) performing RT-PCR to obtain a single-cell cDNA; and (c) amplifying the single-cell cDNA obtained in step (b) in a second round PCR with a primer mixture of TRGV and TRDV sense primers and TRGC and TRDC antisense primers. In one embodiment, the single-cell cDNAs are amplified with a primer mixture comprising nine (9) T-cell receptor gamma variable (TRGV) and/or eight (8) T-cell receptor delta variable (TRDV) sense primers and a single T-cell receptor gamma constant (TRGC) and/or T-cell receptor delta constant (TRDC) antisense primer. Non-limiting examples of external and internal sense primers targeting TRGV and TRDV and antisense TRGC and TRDC primers are listed in Table 1, below. Specific non-limiting examples of a method for sorting single cells, as well as conditions for RT-PCR and nested PCRs, are provided below (see Example 1, Materials & Methods).


In certain embodiments, the invention also provides a method of production of TCRαβ and TCRγδ library in an expression vector, comprising the steps of (a) synthesizing multiple pairs of TRGV and TRDV DNA fragments with a 15-20 bp overlap in the sequence in the 2A region based on the TRGV/TRDV usage in human apheresis ring samples, and (b) performing a three-way ligation with a linearized expression vector (e.g., a retroviral vector, which is convenient for the future applications, like transduction of cell lines and TCR-transgenic mice) using Gibson Assembly® Cloning or another type of ligation, including, e.g., conventional T4-mediated ligation. In certain embodiments, the TCRαβ and/or TCRγδ library is human library comprising the human TCRαβ and TCRγδ. In certain embodiments, the production of TCRαβ and TCRγδ library is performed after the single-cell amplification and paired TRGV/TRDV usage based on the sequence data. Exemplary primers targeting the 2A regions of human CD3δ, γ, ϵ and genes are provided in Tables 2A & 2B.


The Gibson Assembly kit is an enzyme and buffer mix designed to optimize the overlap ligation of g-block gene fragments. In certain embodiments, Gibson Assembly protocol is optimized to synthesize the TRGV and TRDV DNA fragments or genes using g-block technique, IDT DNA). However, the ligation reaction can be performed using other suitable ligases known and available in the art. Using the methods of the present invention, a TCR library can be constructed in as fast as 10 days. As long as the library is established, it can be applied to substitute CDR3 regions from a new patient sample, which can dramatically reduce the cloning time from 10 days to 5 days. This could be beneficial for both adoptive transfer therapy and personalized therapy.


The invention provides a rapid cloning method based on the TCR library constructed, e.g., the TCRαβ and TCRγδ library, comprising the step of generating full-length paired αβ or γδ TCR chains by CDR3 substitution using multiplex PCR products and a linker DNA (overlap extension PCR). In certain embodiments, the linkers contribute to simultaneously substitute CDR3 regions of both TCRα/γ and TCRβ/δ. The linkers are overlapping with the single cell PCR products, therefore, no additional PCR steps are needed. In certain embodiments, the TCRα/γ and TCRβ/δ single cell PCR products and the linkers are mixed together and an overlap PCRs are performed, and then the PCR products generated from the overlap PCRs are used to substitute the CDR3 regions in the cloning library. Exemplary human TCRγδ linker sequences are provided in Table 3, below.


The methods of the present inventions improve the speed and specificity for cloning paired TCRs. With single cell analyses, the cloned paired TCRs of the present invention are more “specific” than examining T cell receptors in bulk because both chains of the receptor are from the same cell. The invention allows rapid cloning of TCRs that are responding to an infection or a tumor, which could be useful in developing targeted cell therapies, e.g., by reintroducing those receptors into the patient's cells to assist in mounting a more effective response. The TCR sequences themselves can also be useful for understanding what targets the response is against. Although there is no simple way of decoding the target from the TCR sequence, databases and/or computer algorithms can be developed to evaluate the relationship on the antigens and the elicited T-cell responses via various TCRs. Furthermore, the invention provides an efficient and accurate TCR expression system for TCRs in a reporter cell line, which can be used for screening specific antigens directly. TCR sequencing can also be used for the detection of minimal residual disease in leukemia and lymphoma. Many tumors have rearranged their TCRs. In these cases, the specific TCR sequence in the tumor becomes a lineage “barcode” for the tumor itself. The methods of the invention can provide TCR sequencing information to determine the presence and/or quantity of tumor cells.


Definitions

In describing the present invention, the following terms will be employed, and are intended to be defined as indicated below.


“CDR3 region” or “the third complementarity determining region” is defined herein as the region from codon positions 105 to the end of the V-REGION in germline gDNA or cDNA, codon positions 105 to 117 in V-DOMAIN of rearranged gDNA or in cDNA (all the position numbers are according to the IMGT unique numbering; see Lefranc, M.-P., The Immunologist, 7, 132-136 (1999) and www.imgt.org/IMGTScientificChart/Nomenclature/IMGT-FRCDRdefinition.html).


As used herein the term “partial variable region” or “partial V region” is determined by the position of the internal forward primers targeting the amplified V-region of interest (e.g., a, β, γ, δ; see, e.g., Tables 8-11) until the codon position 105 (all the position numbers are according to the IMGT unique numbering; see Lefranc, M.-P., The Immunologist, 7, 132-136 (1999) and www.imgt.org/IMGTScientificChart/Nomenclature/IMGT-FRCDRdefinition.html).


As used herein the term “partial constant region” or “partial C region” refers to a region that includes the first codon of the C region until a position defined by the reverse internal primer used to amplify the C region of interest (e.g., α, β, γ, δ; see Tables 8-11).


The term “corresponding TCR library” means the same variable (V) family usage.


It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.


The terms “subject,” “individual,” and “patient,” are used interchangeably herein and refer to any mammalian subject for whom diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, or therapy is desired, particularly humans. Other subjects may include cattle, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, horses, and so on. In some cases, the methods of the invention find use in experimental animals, in veterinary application, and in the development of animal models for disease, including, but not limited to, rodents including mice, rats, and hamsters; primates, and transgenic animals.


The term “about” means within an acceptable error range for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, i.e., the limitations of the measurement system. For example, “about” can mean within an acceptable standard deviation, per the practice in the art. Alternatively, “about” can mean a range of up to ±20%, preferably up to ±10%, more preferably up to ±5%, and more preferably still up to ±1% of a given value. Alternatively, particularly with respect to biological systems or processes, the term can mean within an order of magnitude, preferably within 2-fold, of a value. Where particular values are described in the application and claims, unless otherwise stated, the term “about” is implicit and in this context means within an acceptable error range for the particular value.


In accordance with the present invention there may be employed conventional molecular biology, microbiology, and recombinant DNA techniques within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Sambrook, Fritsch & Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition (1989) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (herein “Sambrook et al., 1989”); DNA Cloning: A practical Approach, Volumes I and II (D. N. Glover ed. 1985); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M J. Gait ed. 1984); Nucleic Acid Hybridization (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins eds. (1985»; Transcription and Translation (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins, eds. (1984»; Animal Cell Culture (R. I. Freshney, ed. (1986»; Immobilized Cells and Enzymes (IRL Press, (1986»; B. Perbal, A practical Guide To Molecular Cloning (1984); F. M. Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1994); among others.


Method and Platform of the Invention

The present invention provides several useful techniques for the analysis of TCR biology, including a single cell based protocol for γδ TCR amplification, a rapid protocol for TCR cloning and expression, and a novel platform for functional characterization of TCR clones (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The invention provides an accurate and efficient method to approach rapid TCR cloning at the single cell level, which can improve the development of multiple applications, including TCR-mediated immunotherapy.


The most prominent recent immunotherapy approaches involve T cell checkpoint blockade inhibitors51. However, these therapies depend on the presence of significant numbers of anti-tumor T cell responses. The ex vivo expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes has also been successful, but is time consuming52. The method of the present invention significantly accelerates the amount of time needed to generate large numbers of anti-tumor T cells, by allowing the efficient transduction of identified anti-tumor receptors. The key to the application of the invention of directed T cell immunotherapy is the rapid and accurate isolation and cloning of paired TCRs. Thus far, various methods have been developed for the cloning of TCR genes by traditional PCR, but the acquisition and expression of TCRs is often labor-intensive, time-consuming, expensive, and non-specific. The present invention provides efficient acquisition of TCR gene products for cloning based on single cell isolation, with an amplification success rate of isolated paired single cell TCRγ and TCRδ CDR3 products of 71.25±18.75% based on total sorted single cells in each sample.


The invention also provides a platform for screening TCR activation after cloning. By inserting the Nur77 reporter into a Jurkat 76 TCRα-β-cell line, a useful system for monitoring specific TCR activation was generated, as demonstrated by stimulation of PB1-NJ76 by its cognate influenza-derived peptide and stimulation of TRGV9/TRDV2 T cells with, e.g., zoledronic acid.


In certain embodiments, the invention employs the insertion of Nur77-GFP BAC DNA into the Jurkat cell line as a reporter cell line. Prior approaches to detect T cell activation include CD69 expression on the cell surface22, and detection of IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα protein levels in cell culture supernatants by ELISA21,22. These conventional methods have some shortcomings. For instance, CD69 is common activation marker of T cells, so it cannot show the specific activation of T cells through TCR signaling-bystander activation can occur. Detection of IFNγ, IL-2 and TNFα by ELISA is time-consuming (2 days) and expensive, and Detection of IFNγ, IL-2 and TNFα by real-time is labor-intensive (requires RNA isolation), time-consuming (at least a day).


The Nur77-GFP system has been demonstrated to reflect specific TCR triggering after stimulation40,41,42, instead of activation by other receptors on the cell surface, like TLRs, NKG2A/2D, or other inhibitory receptors. Furthermore, GFP is directly assayable by flow cytometry without any secondary processing. The Nur77-GFP system allows rapid and accurate detection of specific T cell stimulation in a high-throughput manner. In certain embodiments, the invention provides that zoledronic acid induces the GFP expression of TRGV9/TRDV2 Nur77-GFP cells, demonstrating that the invention platform is functional, and zoledronic acid can be used in combination with TRGV9/TRDV2-expressing cells as a positive control for the test platform and that peptides can be used in combination with their cognate TRBV/TRAV-expressing cells (as demonstrated in FIG. 3B) as a control for the test platform.


Therefore, the present invention provides a novel platform and/or system that can be used to test different molecules directly by stimulating the Nur77-GFP Jurkat cell line, and characterizing and quantifying the stimulation based on GFP expression by flow cytometry. The platform of the present invention is faster, easier and more inexpensive (no need to stain) to perform, and can be used to screen TCR-activating or modifying drugs in a high-throughput screening manner as compared to prior art platforms.


In other embodiments, a Nur77-Luciferase reporter, which has a lower signal to noise ratio, is included in the Nur77-GFP Jurkat cell line to decrease the background for certain types of drug screening. Insertion of Nur77-Luciferase BAC DNA into the Jurkat cell line instead of Nur77-GFP can be undertaken, followed by luciferase detection in various assays that include high-throughput screening platforms. The luciferase detection may be conducted with between 5×104 to 2.5×105 cells per well, or about 1×105 cells per well, for highly sensitive detection.


Another application of the Nur77-GFP system is to screen for compounds that inhibit T cell activation. The Nur77-GFP system of the invention can be used for drug screening, clinical applications, and basic immunology research.


Considering the variability of CDR3 sequences and TCR variable regions (approximately 1018 combinations in human TCRγδ cells and 1016 combinations for TCRαβ cells53) and the complexity of cloning all the different clones de novo, the invention provides a method using overlap extension PCR of a linker molecule with amplified single cell CDR3 products and a constructed γδ (or αβ) TCR library to rapidly (less than 5 days) generate diverse TCR clones. Setting up a TCR clone library with all possible combination of TCRγ/TCRδ or TCRγ/TCRα pairings and a DNA linker library allows the achievement of superior speed by overcoming the need to synthesize the hypervariable CDR3 portion of the DNA. In the method of the present invention, as soon as the sequence information of the TCR CDR3 region from the single-cell PCR and their family usage are known, the relevant clone can be picked up from the library with the required TRBV and TRAV families to use as a backbone for the final construct. The single-cell PCR products of TCRβ/γ and TCRα/δ can then be linked together by using two terminal primers and a DNA linker by overlapping PCR. Next, this target gene can be substituted directly into the existing clones and the irrelevant CDR3s can be replaced with the specific ones while preserving the family usage. In certain embodiments, new CDR3s of TRGV9-TRDV2 are put into the existing cloning of TRGV9-TRDV2 vector with different CDR3s by overlapping extension PCR. With the method of the present invention, cloning TCR genes can be achieved within 5 days.


As compared to prior art methods21,22, important advantages of the methods of the present invention are as follows:

    • 1. The method of the present invention provides a way to build a library of clones as a one-time necessity that can serve as a backbone to the second, rapid TCR cloning method.
    • 2. The method of the present invention does not require stimulation of PBMCs (e.g., with PHA/IL-2), which saves at least 1 day (and potential variability and survival issues) and helps avoid bias in the TCR repertoire in the subsequent analyses (as stimulation of PBMCs may cause unnecessary selection of TCR repertoire due to expansion of a subset of T cells, as well as a high rate and/or non-physiological level of dual TCRa and dual TCRβ expression in a single cell due to clonal expansion under the stimulation).
    • 3. The method of the present invention is substantially faster than the reported approaches and relies on more robust processes. Once the library is made, the invention platform only needs 5 days to clone TCRs. Prior approaches are more labor intensive because they clone the full-length TCR de novo. In contrast, the method of the present invention uses the single-cell PCR products to clone any pairs of TCRs, and the libraries constructed using these clones can be continuously used.
    • 4. The method of the present invention can yield an average 71% of TCR pairs from human samples (compare with an average 34% yield reported in22 or 147 T cells in samples from 61 patients identified in21).
    • 5. While in prior methods22 TCRα/γ and TCRβ/δ were inserted into different vectors to transfect cells, which may cause the biased expression of TCRs, in the method of the present invention TCRα/γ and TCRβ/δ are inserted under the same promoter separated by a 2A sequence to ensure their equal level of expression.
    • 6. In certain embodiments, the method of the present invention uses Jurkat 76 cell line (the TCR-negative human T cell line) to express human TCR clones. Such human cell line likely more accurately mimics human T cells and is more amenable to adoptive transfer therapy than mouse cell lines used in prior art.
    • 7. The single-cell technique used in the method of the present invention allows to examine small number of cells (as low as 1) which is important e.g., in solid tumors where the numbers of TILs are limiting.


Uses of the Methods of the Invention

The rapid TCR cloning method of the present invention is very useful for immunotherapy. Tumor-specific T cells have been characterized by broad non-specific surface phenotypes that can be used to isolate, clone, and express potential tumor-targeted clones54. The recent advancement of tumor sequencing has allowed for identification of tumor neoantigens and overexpressed self-antigens55,56,57,58. Combining these technologies will allow characterizion and tailoring of anti-tumor therapy.


T cell transfers have also been used for the treatment of opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients, particularly after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The reactivation of herpes viruses like human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus is a clinical dilemma that cannot always be addressed with antivirals24,59,60. Analogous to TIL therapies, ex vivo expansion of antiviral T cell specificities can be clinically useful, but suffers from similar workflow limitations. By generating a library of specific TCR constructs reactive against a range of viruses and HLA types, TCR-directed therapies could be used prophylactically or immediately at the earliest signs of reactivation.


In addition to these therapeutic applications, the method of the present invention significantly improves the workflow for cloning and expressing TCRs for study in vitro. This can include the characterization of biochemical features of the TCR-peptide-MHC interaction, or, in the case where ligands have not been identified transduced cell lines can be used for the screening of novel antigens. This is particularly useful in the context of γδ T cells, where very few ligands have been identified and confirmed18,61. The GFP reporter line engineered can be used directly in high-throughput screening platforms; alternative reporters (such as, e.g., luciferase) can be easily substituted as well.


EXAMPLES

The present invention is also described and demonstrated by way of the following examples. However, the use of these and other examples anywhere in the specification is illustrative only and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to any particular preferred embodiments described here. Indeed, many modifications and variations of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification, and such variations can be made without departing from the invention in spirit or in scope. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims along with the full scope of equivalents to which those claims are entitled.


Example 1
Materials and Methods

Subjects and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples. Samples were obtained using research protocols approved by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's institutional review boards (IRB) (Memphis, Tenn.). Peripheral whole blood was collected from heparinized apheresis rings from healthy immunocompetent individuals not taking immunomodulatory pharmaceutical agents. PBMCs were isolated via density gradient centrifugation (GE Healthcare Ficoll-Paque PLUS), and red blood cells (RBCs) were removed using RBC lysis buffer (8.3 g NH4Cl, 1 g KHCO3, and 1 ml 0.1% Phenol Red in 1 L distilled water). Isolated PBMCs were frozen in −80° C. for future use. All PBMCs used in the paper were stored frozen. Compared to fresh PBMC data from healthy apheresis rings, frozen PBMCs did not have a significantly lower success rate for single-cell amplification.


Single cell sorting and staining. PBMCs were treated with human FcR blocking reagent (Miltenyi Biotec) on ice for 20 minutes. Human TCRγδ cells were isolated by staining with PE-conjugated anti-human TCRγ/δ (Biolegend, clone: B1), FITC-conjugated anti-human CD3 (Biolegend, clone: OKT3), a dump gate consisting of APC-conjugated anti-human CD11b/CD14/CD19 (Biolegend, CD11b clone: ICRF44; Biolegend, CD14 clone: HCD14; Biolegend, CD19 clone: HIB19) and Live/Dead Violet exclusion dye (Invitrogen, L34955) on ice for 30 minutes. After staining, TCRγ/δ+ CD3+ cells were sorted directly into a 96-well PCR plate (Biorad) with a sorter (Model sy3200, Sony Biotech Synergy sorter) by the following gating strategy: autofluorescence gate−lymphocytes gate−single cell gate−live/dead gate−dump gate (CD11b/14/19)−TCRγδ/CD3 gate (FIG. 8). The last 2 columns of the plate were left empty for use as PCR negative controls. After sorting, plates were stored at −80° C. until downstream processing. Human α/β T cells were also isolated using the same method27, which consisted of APC-conjugated anti-human CD14/CD19/CD11b (Biolegend, CD14 clone: HCD14; Biolegend, CD19 clone: HIB19; Biolegend, CD11b clone: ICRF44), PE-conjugated anti-human TCRα/β (Biolegend, clone: IP26), FITC-conjugated anti-human CD3 (Biolegend, clone: OKT3) and Live/Dead Violet L34955 (Invitrogen). To increase PCR efficiency, the plates were pre-loaded with mixture of RT-PCR by SuperScript® VILO cDNA synthesis kit and single cells were sorted directly into these plates.


Reverse transcription, multiplex, nested single cell PCR, and sequencing. cDNA from TCRγδ and TCRαβ mRNA was reverse transcribed directly from the sorted and stored single cells in the PCR plate without any RNA extraction step using the iScript cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad) in a 2.5 μl reaction mix as per the method described previously26. The cDNA synthesis was carried out by incubating at 25° C. for 5 min, 42° C. for 30 min, and 80° C. for 5 min (For the first round and second round of PCR). Alternatively, the SuperScript® VILO cDNA synthesis kit was used which produces a higher success rate for single cell PCR by incubating the reaction mixture at 25° C. for 10 min, 42° C. for 60 min, and 80° C. for 5 min. The TCRαβ transcripts from each cell were amplified by a multiplex nested PCR strategy as described previously26,27. For amplification of TCRγδ transcripts, the overall strategy was similar to the published TCRαβ amplification (95° C. for 2 min, followed by 35 cycles of 95° C. for 20 s, 53° C. for 20 s, and 72° C. for 45 s, followed by final extension of 72° C. for 7 min.), except for the primers described in Table 1.









TABLE 1







Primers targeting human T cells receptor


gamma (TRGV) and delta (TRDV) genes









TRGV gene(s)




targeted by
External
Internal


primer
primer sequence
primer sequence





HuTRGV3.5
5′TCTTCCAACTTGGAAGGG3′
5′GGTCATCTGCTGAAATCAC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 1)
(SEQ ID NO: 2)





HuTRGV7
5′TCTTCCAACTTGCAAGGG3′
5′GGTCATCTGCTGTAATCACTTG3′



(SEQ ID NO: 3)
(SEQ ID NO: 4)





HuTRGVA
5′GGGTCATCCTGTTTCCAG3′
5′TACCTAAGGACCTGTGTAGAGG3′



(SEQ ID NO: 5)
(SEQ ID NO: 6)





HuTRGVB
5′TGGCCTCCCAAAGTACTG3′
5′TCCTCTTTCTATGTCCCAGG3′



(SEQ ID NO: 7)
(SEQ ID NO: 8)





HuTRGV8
5′CCAACTTGGAAGGGAGAAC3′
5′AAAATGCCGTCTACACCC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 9)
(SEQ ID NO: 10)





HuTRGV9
5′CCAGGTCACCTAGAGCAAC3′
5′TGTCCATTTCATATGACGG3′



(SEQ ID NO: 11)
(SEQ ID NO: 12)





HuTRGV10
5′TTATCAAAAGTGGAGCAGTTC3′
5′CAGCTATCCATTTCCACGG3′



(SEQ ID NO: 13)
(SEQ ID NO: 14)





HuTRGV11
5′GAACAACCTGAAATATCTATTTCC3′
5′CATATCTTGGAAGGCATCC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 15)
(SEQ ID NO: 16)





HuTRGV1.2.4.6
5′GGGTCATCTGCTGAAATCAC3′
5′CCAGGAGGGGAAGGC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 17)
(SEQ ID NO: 18)





HuTRGC
5′GGTGTTCCCCTCCTGG3′
5′CCCAGAATCGTGTTGCT3′



(SEQ ID NO: 19)
(SEQ ID NO: 20)





HuTRDV1
5′GCCCAGAAGGTTACTCAAG3′
S′AGCAAAGAGATGATTTTCCTTA3′



(SEQ ID NO: 21)
(SEQ ID NO: 22)





HuTRDV2
5′ATTGAGTTGGTGCCTGAAC3′
5′TATATCAACTGGTACAGGAAGACC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 23)
(SEQ ID NO: 24)





HuTRDV3
5′TGTGACAAAGTAACCCAGAGTTC3′
5′GGTACTGCTCTGCACTTACGAC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 25)
(SEQ ID NO: 26)





HuTRDV4/
5′CAAACCCAACCAGGAATG3′
5′AGGAAAAGGAGGCTGTGAC3′


TRAV14
(SEQ ID NO: 27)
(SEQ ID NO: 28)





HuTRDV5/
5′GCAAGTTAAGCAAAATTCACC3′
5′CTGCTGAAGGTCCTACATTC3′


TRAV29
(SEQ ID NO: 29)
(SEQ ID NO: 30)





HuTRDV6/
5′TTGATAGTCCAGAAAGGAGG3′
5′CGTTTGACTACTTTCCATGG3′


TRAV23
(SEQ ID NO: 31)
(SEQ ID NO: 32)





HuTRDV7/
5′GACAAGGTGGTACAAAGCC3′
5′ATCTCTGGTTGTCCACGAG3′


TRAV36
(SEQ ID NO: 33)
(SEQ ID NO: 34)





HuTRDV8/
5′CAGTCACTCAGTCTCAACCAG3′
5′TCTGGTACAAGCAGCCTC3′


TRAV38-2
(SEQ ID NO: 35)
(SEQ ID NO: 36)





HuTRDC
5′CTTCATATTTACCAAGCTTGACAG3′
5′GATGACAATAGCAGGATCAAAC3′



(SEQ ID NO: 37)
(SEQ ID NO: 38)









Nine (9) TRGV external sense primers, nine (9) TRGV internal sense primers, eight (8) TRDV external sense primers and eight (8) TRDV internal sense primers targeted for individual TRGV and TRDV families were designed based on the sequences derived from the IMGT database62. For the antisense primer, single TRGC external, TRGC internal, TRDC external, and TRDC internal primers complementary to the published TRGC and TRDC sequences in IMGT were designed. Human TRAV14/DV4, TRAV23/DV6, TRAV29/DV5, TRAV36/DV7, and TRAV38-2/DV8 are shared primers in TRAV and TRDV primer sets.


The primers were synthesized by IDT and stored at −20° C. at a stock concentration of 100 μM in TE with low EDTA (pH8.0). The primers for each category (sense external, sense internal of TRGV and TRDV) were combined so that the final concentration of each primer in the mixture was 10 μM. The antisense primers were diluted to 10 μM. The PCR conditions for the TCRγδ nested PCR were 95° C. for 2 min, followed by 35 cycles of 95° C. for 20 s, 53° C. for 20 s, and 72° C. for 45 s, followed by final extension of 72° C. for 7 min. The PCR products were run on a 2% agarose gel to check for the success rate of the PCR as well as contamination following which the products were purified by a modified Exonuclease I—rShrimp alkaline phosphatase (ExoSAP-IT®) method63 to eliminate unincorporated primers and dNTPs for high quality DNA sequencing. 1 μl of the single cell PCR product was added into the mixture of 4.6 μl of Tris-Cl (50 mM, pH8.0), 0.2 μl of Exonuclease I and 0.2 μl of rShimp alkaline phosphatase and was incubated at 37° C. for 15 min and 80° C. for 15 min. The purified PCR products were sequenced using the relevant TRAC, TRBC, TRGC or TRDC primer. A schematic of the PCR strategy is shown in FIG. 1A.


gBlock® gene fragments, Gibson Assembly® and Transformation. The gBlock® gene fragments encoding the library of TRGVs and TRDVs were obtained from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT). The expression vector pMICherry (10 μg), which was modified from the parental pMIGII64 by changing GFP to an mCherry reporter, was double digested by EcoR I (20 units) and Xho I (20 units) restriction enzymes (New England Biolabs) at 37° C. for 3 h as per manufacturer's instruction. Agarose gel purified-linearized pMICherry vector (100 ng) and 2×TCR gBlock inserts were ligated in a three-way ligation, including the TCRγ gene, TCR gene, and linearized vector by using the Gibson Assembly® Cloning kit (New England Biolabs) per manufacturer's instructions. Two microliters of the ligation mixture was transformed into DH5α Competent E. coli (New England Biolabs) per manufacturer's instructions.


Generation of human CD3 constructs. Human CD3 δ, γ, ϵ and δ genes were amplified from human PBMC cDNA using the primers in Table 2a. All the genes were linked together by overlap PCR with species-specific 2A regions inserted35. The types and amino acid sequences of the 2As used are shown in Table 2b. The CD3 gene complex was then cloned into an MSCV-based retroviral vector that contains an IRES31,32,65 and ametrine as a reporter gene.









TABLE 2a







2A Primers targeting human


CD3δ, γ, ε and ζ genes










TRGV gene(s)




targeted




by primer
Primer sequence






CD3δ
5′CCCTCACTCCTTCTCTAGGCGCCGGAAT



sense
TCGCCAGGATGGAACATAGCACG3′




(SEQ ID NO: 39)






CD3δ
5′CCACGTCTCCCGCCAACTTGAGAAGGTC



antisense
AAAATTCAAAGTCTGTTTCACCGGTCCCTT




GTTCCGAGCC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 40)






CD3γ
5′GAATTTTGACCTTCTCAAGTTGGCGGGA



sense
GACGTGGAGTCCAACCCAGGGCCCATGGAA




CAGGGGAAG3′ (SEQ ID NO: 41)






CD3γ
5′CCTCGACGTCACCGCATGTTAGCAGACT



antisense
TCCTCTGCCCTCAGATCTTCTATTCCTCCT




CAAC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 42)






CD3ε
5′CAGAGGAAGTCTGCTAACATGCGGTGAC



sense
GTCGAGGAGAATCCTGGCCCAATGCAGTCG




GGCACTC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 43)






CD3ε
5′GTTTTCTTCCACGTCTCCTGCTTGCTTT



antisense
AACAGAGAGAAGTTCGTGGCGGATCCTCCG




ATGCGTCTCTG3′ (SEQ ID NO: 44)






CD3ζ
5′CTCTCTGTTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTG



sense
GAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGAAGTGGAAA




GTG3′ (SEQ ID NO: 45)






CD3ζ
5′GAGGGAGAGGGGCGGAATTGATCCTCGA



antisense
GCAATTGTTAGCGAGGGGCCAG3′




(SEQ ID NO: 46)
















TABLE 2b







Types and sequences of 2A regions










2A amino acid



2A Type
sequence
Separation





F2A (foot
VKQTLNFDLLKLAGD
CD3δ and


and-mouth
VESNPGP
CD3γ


disease virus)
(SEQ ID NO: 47)






T2A (Thosea
EGRGSLLTCGDVEEN
CD3γ and



asigna virus)

PGP
CD3ε



(SEQ ID NO: 48)






P2A (porcine
ATNFSLLKQAGDVEE
CD3ε and


teschovirus-1)
NPGP
CD3ζ



(SEQ ID NO: 49)









DNA Isolation, Cell Culture and Transfection. Recombinant pMICherry plasmids with full length TCRαβ or TCRγδ inserts were isolated in small scale by using a NucleoSpin® Plasmid kit (Clontech) and in large scale for transfection using a Plasmid Midi kit (Qiagen) per the manufacturer's instructions. The Neon® Transfection System was used to transfect 10 μg TCRαβ or γδ DNA in the pMICherry vector into the human Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line (2×107 cells/mL, 100 μl)66, followed by three pulses with a voltage of 1,350V and a width of 10 ms. The transfected cells were cultured for 48 h before being assayed for TCRαβ or TCRγδ expression on the surface by FACS analysis. The human Jurkat 76 cells TCRαβcell line was cultured in complete-RPMI 1640 medium, which is RPMI 1640 with 10% of fetal bovine serum, 1% Penicillin Streptomycin, and 1% L-glutamine at 37° C. and 5% CO2.


Immunofluorescent and flow cytometric analysis For surface staining, cells (1-5×105) were harvested from culture and washed with FACS buffer (PBS with 1% of BSA and 0.1% sodium azide) prior to staining. The cells were treated with human FcR blocking reagent (Miltenyi Biotec) on ice for 20 min, and cells were then treated with various fluorescent conjugated antibodies against cell surface markers in FACS buffer. Human γδ T cells were stained with APC-conjugated anti-human TCRγ/δ (Biolegend, clone: B1) or APC-conjugated anti-human TCRα/β (Biolegend, clone: IP26) and Pacific Blue-conjugated anti-human CD3 (Biolegend, clone: OKT3). For influenza-specific tetramer staining, cells (1-5×105) were stained with APC-conjugated Influenza-M1 tetramer (Beckman Coulter, HLA-A*0201, GILGFVFTL (SEQ ID NO: 146)) in FACS buffer at room temperature for 1 h prior to surface staining with the same staining antibodies described.


Modification of the CDR3 region by two-step overlap extension PCR cloning The substitution of the CDR3 was carried out by an overlap extension PCR cloning protocol28. A schematic diagram of the procedure is shown in FIG. 4. Briefly, a library of linker DNA was generated by gBlock synthesis at IDT (Table 3). The linker DNA consists of TRGC-2A-TRDVx (X represents the TRDV family) sequence. Using the single cell PCR products of γ and δ chains of the desired clonotype and the relevant linker gBock DNA we carried out an overlap PCR. The PCR reaction was set up and carried out as follows: 12.5 μl 2×Phusion® high-fidelity DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs), 0.25 μl of 100×DMSO, 1 μl of 10 μM TRGV internal sense primer, 1 μl of TRDV internal antisense primer (Table 1), 1 ng of linker DNA, and deionized H2O up to 25 μl. The PCR program was 98° C. for 30 s; 34 cycles of each at 98° C. for 10 s, 58° C. for 30 s, 72° C. for 1 min; then finally 72° C. for 10 min. The PCR products were visualized on a 1% agarose gel, and purified from the gel to use for cloning into the existing construct with the same TRGV and TRDV family usage. The reaction conditions used were as follows: 20 ng of a TCR construct in pMICherry vector with identical TRGV and TRDV but an irrelevant CDR3γ and δ, with 50 ng of the first step PCR products, 12.5 μl of 2×Phusion® high-fidelity DNA polymerase, 0.25 μl of 100×DMSO, and deionized H2O up to 25 μl. The PCR conditions used were 98° C. for 30 s; 17 cycles of each at 98° C. for 10 s, 65° C. for 30 s, 72° C. for 4 min; then finally 72° C. for 10 min. The PCR products were incubated with 1 μl DpnI enzyme (New England Biolabs) at 37° C. for 1 h, and 2-3 μl of the digested products transformed into NovaBlue Singles® competent cells (EMD Millipore).









TABLE 3







Human TCRγδ Linker DNA library


(lower case: TRGC sequence;



bold: 2A sequence; italic: TRDVx sequence









Linker



DNA Name
Sequence





HuLinkerDV1
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCA




TGCTGTTCTCCAGCCTGCTGTGTGTATTTGTGGCCTTC



AGCTACTCTGGATCAAGTGTGGCCCAGAAGGTTACTCA



AGCCCAGTCATCAGTATCCATGCCAGTGAGGAAAGCAG



TCACCCTGAACTGCCTGTATGAAACAAGTTGGTGGTCA



TATTATATTTTTTGGTACAAGCAACTTCCCAGCAAAGA



GATGATTTTCCTTATTCGCC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 50)





HuLinkerDV2
5′catacattgtatatgagaaatttttcccagatatta



ttaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgatt



ctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaacga



cacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccagaag



agtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacat



gagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctt



tcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatccca



aagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacactactg



ctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacct



cctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatca



tcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgctgc



aatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTTAAA




GCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
ATGC





AGAGGATCTCCTCCCTCATCCATCTCTCTCTCTTCTGG





GCAGGAGTCATGTCAGCCATTGAGTTGGTGCCTGAACA





CCAAACAGTGCCTGTGTCAATAGGGGTCCCTGCCACCC





TCAGGTGCTCCATGAAAGGAGAAGCGATCGGTAACTAC





TATATCAACTGGTACAGGAAGACCCAAGG3′




(SEQ ID NO: 51)





HuLinkerDV3
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
A





TGATTCTTACTGTGGGCTTTAGCTTTTTGTTTTTCTAC





AGGGGCACGCTGTGTGACAAAGTAACCCAGAGTTCCCC





GGACCAGACGGTGGCGAGTGGCAGTGAGGTGGTACTGC





TCTGCACTTACGACACTG3′ (SEQ ID NO: 52)






HuLinkerDV4
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
A





TGTCACTTTCTAGCCTGCTGAAGGTGGTCACAGCTTCA





CTGTGGCTAGGACCTGGCATTGCCCAGAAGATAACTCA





AACCCAACCAGGAATGTTCGTGCAGGAAAAGGAGGCTG





TGACTCTGG3′ (SEQ ID NO: 53)






HuLinkerDV5
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
A





TGGCCATGCTCCTGGGGGCATCAGTGCTGATTCTGTGG





CTTCAGCCAGACTGGGTAAACAGTCAACAGAAGAATGA





TGACCAGCAAGTTAAGCAAAATTCACCATCCCTGAGCG





TCCAGGAAGGAAGAATTTCTATTCTGAACTGTGACTAT





ACTAACAGCATGTTTGATTATTTCCTATGGTACAAAAA





ATACCCTGCTGAAGGTCCTACATTCCTGATATC3′ 




(SEQ ID NO: 54)





HuLinkerDV6
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
A





TGGACAAGATCTTAGGAGCATCATTTTTAGTTCTGTGG





CTTCAACTATGCTGGGTGAGTGGCCAACAGAAGGAGAA





AAGTGACCAGCAGCAGGTGAAACAAAGTCCTCAATCTT





TGATAGTCCAGAAAGGAGGGATTTCAATTATAAACTGT





GCTTATGAGAACACTGCGTTTGACTACTTTCCATGGTA





CC3′ (SEQ ID NO: 55)






HuLinkerDV7
5′catacctttgtcttcttgagaaatttttcccagata



ttattaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacg



attctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaa



cgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag



aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcaga



catgagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattat



ctttcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatc



ccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacacta



ctgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgta



cctcctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgcca



tcatcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgc



tgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTT




AAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
A





TGATGAAGTGTCCACAGGCTTTACTAGCTATCTTTTGG





CTTCTACTGAGCTGGGTGAGCAGTGAAGACAAGGTGGT





ACAAAGCCCTCTATCTCTGGTTGTCCACGAGGGAG3′




(SEQ ID NO: 56)





HuLinkerDV8
5′catacattgtatatgagaaatttttcccagatatta



ttaagatacattggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgatt



ctgggatcccaggaggggaacaccatgaagactaacga



cacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccagaag



agtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacat



gagaataataaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctt



tcctccaataaagacagatgtcatcacaatggatccca



aagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacactactg



ctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacct



cctcctgctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatca



tcacctgctgtctgcttggaagaacggctttctgctgc



aatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTGTTAAA




GCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCC
ATGG





CATGCCCTGGCTTCCTGTGGGCACTTGTGATCTCCACC





TGTCTTGAATTTAGCATGGCTCAGACAGTCACTCAGTC





TCAACCAGAGATGTCTGTGCAGGAGGCAGAGACCGTGA





CCCTGAGCTGCACATATGACACCAGTGAGAGTGATTAT





TATTTATTCTGGTACAAGCAGCCTCCCAG3′




(SEQ ID NO: 57)









Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line. To characterize the functionality of TCRαβ or γδ clones, we established the Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line (NJ76 cells). After linearization of a Nur77-GFP BAC clone (constructed based on pTARBAC)40 by mixing 10 μg BAC DNA, 2 μl 10× reaction buffer, 10 units of PI-SceI restriction enzyme (New England Biolabs), and nuclease-free water to make the volume up to 20 μl with incubation at 37° C. for 3 h and inactivation at 65° C. for 20 min, 80 μl of nuclease-free water, 15 μl of sterile sodium acetate (3M, pH7.0), and 300 μl of ethanol were added to the reaction mixture, which was then centrifuged at 12,000 g for 30 min at 4° C. The resulting DNA pellet was washed with 75% ethanol, dried in the air, and resuspended by Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 8.0). The Neon® Transfection System following the manufacturer's instruction was used to transfect the linearized BAC DNA into the human Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line (2×107 cells/mL, 100 ul), and pulsed three times with a voltage of 1,350V and a width of 10 ms. Cells were then cultured in complete-RPMI 1640 medium containing 500 ug/ml Geneticin (Invitrogen) for selection.


Stimulation of KbPB1703+TCRαβ+ NJ76 cells (PB1-NJ76) by flu peptide PB1. NJ76 cell transfected with a murine KbPB1703-specific TCRαβ derived from influenza-infected mice and transfected cells were incubated with mouse splenocytes (cell number ratio of PB1-NJ76/splenocytes is 2:1), the influenza PB1703-711 peptide (1 μM/ml), mouse splenocytes and peptide, and mouse α-CD3 (2C11; 10 μg/ml) and human α-CD28 (CD28.2; 10 μg/ml) in c-RPMI 1640 medium at 37° C. for 4 h. The GFP expression in the mouse TCRαβ+CD3+ cell population was quantified by flow cytometry.


Stimulation of TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells by Zoledronic acid. NJ76 cells transfected with a TRGV9/TRDV2 clone were incubated with 50 μg/ml zoledronic acid (Zometa, Novartis) in c-RPMI 1640 medium at 37° C. for 3 h, washed three times and incubated for 12 h. The GFP expression in the TCRγδ+CD3+ cell population was quantified by flow cytometry.


Example 2
Paired TCRγδ Analysis of Human PBMC Samples at the Single Cell Level

A strategy was developed to characterize the paired TCRγδ repertoire in humans. The primers were designed for all non-pseudogene TRGV and TRDV regions along with antisense primers for their respective constant regions. Two sets of primers (external and internal) were designed in order to perform a nested PCR (Table 1). The PCR products were examined by agarose gel electrophoresis before sequencing (FIG. 1B). The average success rate for obtaining paired CDR3γ and CDR3δ sequences at the single cell level from human PBMC samples by the present method is 71.25±18.75%. The TRGV/TRDV family usage was determined from the multiplex PCR products (FIG. 1C). On average, 20% of the sequences from the analysis of 14 human PBMCs were TRGV9/TRDV2. This technique along with the established mouse and human αβ single cell multiplex PCR offers a rapid method (turnaround time ˜3 days per 160 cells) for characterizing paired TCRγδ chains at the single cell level. The data of paired TRGV/TRDV family usage percentage in each human sample are shown in Table 4.









TABLE 4







TRGV/TRDV repertoire among 14 human samples. The percentage


of paired TRGV/TRDV usage was analyzed from the sequencing


results of each 14 human PBMC samples. Average values, standard


deviation and standard error were reported.











Mean
Std. Deviation
Std. Error













TRGV9/TRDV2
20.06
16.11
4.306


TRGV4/TRDV1
12.71
15
4.008


TRGV8/TRDV1
8.714
10.63
2.842


TRGV9/TRDV3
8.357
21.25
5.68


TRGV2/TRDV1
7.836
14.61
3.906


TRGV1/TRDV2
4.643
13.51
3.61


TRGV3/TRDV3
4.35
13.09
3.498


TRGV9/TRDV1
4.279
8.702
2.326


TRGV4/TRDV3
4.071
9.059
2.421


TRGV3/TRDV1
4.029
5.646
1.509


TRGV2/TRDV3
3.071
8.801
2.352


TRGV5/TRDV3
2.643
6.744
1.802


TRGV8/TRDV2
1.971
5.388
1.44


TRGV5/TRDV1
1.871
3.633
0.9711


TRGV2/TRDV2
1.871
3.633
0.9711


TRGV8/TRDV3
1.643
4.557
1.218


TRGV2/TRAV29/DV5
1.492
4.706
1.305


TRGV3/TRDV2
1.279
2.922
0.7808


TRGV10/TRDV1
1.071
2.31
0.6175


TRGV9/TRAV38-2/DV8
0.3571
1.336
0.3571


TRGV4/TRDV2
0.1857
0.6949
0.1857


TRGV9/TRAV29/DV5
0.1714
0.6414
0.1714









Example 3

Establishment of Human TCRαβ and TCRγδ Retroviral Expression Clone Library


Many of the downstream applications of paired TCRαβ or TCRγδ sequence analysis require cloning and expression of the antigen specific receptors for immunological studies such as structural and functional characterization, biochemical characterization, epitope identification, and gene therapy18,29,30. Thus, a rapid cloning method was developed to improve on conventional restriction enzyme-mediated ligation techniques, which can be cumbersome and time consuming. In addition, use of restriction enzymes for cloning becomes problematic because of the potential occurrences of restriction sites in some variable regions and the non-germline CDR3 sequences of the TCR chains. The vector used for TCR expression is pMICherry, which has been successfully used to construct TCR clones for the generation of retrogenic mice31,32. A schematic diagram of the cloned TCR chains in the pMICherry vector is shown in FIG. 2A.


To clone full length TCR chains, a TRGV9/TRDV2 clone was chosen to demonstrate the feasibility of the cloning system, since the TRGV9/TRDV2 clonotype is dominant in the TCRγδ repertoire analysis from human PBMCs (FIG. 1C). Similarly, a human TCRαβ pair was chosen derived from an influenza-specific CD8 T cell from an infected individual. Using the IMGT-reported human TRGV, TRDV, TRGC, and TRDC sequences for TCRγδ or human TRAV, TRBV, TRAC and TRBC sequences for TCRαβ and the single cell CDR3γ and δ or CDR3α and β sequence data full length TCRγ and δ chains and TCRα and β chains were constructed and joined by the 2A “self-cleaving” site in silico. 2A oligopeptides can interact with the ribosomal exit tunnel to terminate sequence translation at the final codon (Pro) of the 2A sequence, and reinitiate translation of the following sequence33. Multi-cistronic 2A based retroviral vectors have been used for TCR:CD3 structural and functional studies32,34-38. The entire sequence of TCRγ-2A-TCRδ along with an 25 bp overhang complementary to the ends of the linearized pMICherry vector were synthesized in two fragments of approximately 1 kb each as gBlock® DNA fragments (IDT) with an internal 25 bp overlap in the 2A segment. By using Gibson Assembly® Master Mix, the two gBlocks spanning the TCRγ-2A-TCRδ were ligated with the linearized vector in a three-way ligation. The process of cloning is shown in FIG. 2A. After this cloning procedure, an average of 70.9% of the colonies picked after transformation was entirely matched with target sequences. The others contained either point mutations resulting from the cloning process or no inserts. More than 30 different TCR constructs have been cloned by using this system, including, mouse and human TCR αβ and TCRγ6. The cloning system is highly reproducible.


To test the functionality of the TCR clones that were made following the method described in FIG. 2A, the human TRGV9/TRDV2 construct was transfected into the Jurkat 76 TCRαβcell line and checked for the cell surface expression by anti-TCRγδ and anti-CD3 antibody staining and flow cytometry. Although Jurkat cells have endogenous CD3, the expression of TCRγδ was not robust. Since γδ T cells do not develop in CD3-deficient mice and patients39 the human CD3 complex was cloned into an MSCV vector (pMIAmetrine) and co-transfected it with the human TCR constructs. mCherry and ametrine are the reporter genes in the pMICherry vector with human TCR genes and the pMIAmetrine vector with human CD3 genes, respectively. It is demonstrated that co-transfection of the human CD3 construct with the human TCRγδ and chains can improve the surface expression level of TCR in a Jurkat cell line (FIG. 6). 3.76% of cells were double positive for mCherry and ametrine, and 19.5% of double-positive cells were TCRγδ and CD3 positive, which proved the functionality of the cloning and expression platform of the invention (top panel, FIG. 2B). The expression of the influenza virus-specific TCRαβ was analyzed by staining the transfected cells with APC-conjugated influenza-M1 tetramer (HLA-A*0201, GILGFVFTL (SEQ ID NO: 146)) and CD3 antibody. The FACS plot shows 5.03% of transfected cells were double positive for mCherry and ametrine, 16.1% of which were positive for tetramer staining (bottom panel, FIG. 2B).


Example 4

Effective TCR Activation Reporting by Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRαβCells


An important application of TCR cloning and expression is to screen molecules that can activate or inhibit TCR signaling. Thus far, the common methods to detect TCR activation are using ELISA to detect cytokines (e.g. IFNγ) in the cell culture medium21,22, intracellular staining to report cytokine production by flow cytometry, or qRT-PCR to quantify the mRNA expression of cytokines, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. In the present invention, a TCR activation reporter cell line, Nur77-GFP Jurkat 76 TCRαβ(NJ76 cells) was established by stably transducing Nur77-GFP BAC DNA into Jurkat 76 TCRαβcells. The Nur77-GFP reporting system has been demonstrated to reflect specific TCR signal strength by GFP expression40,41,42.


To test the functionality of NJ76 cells in reporting TCR activation, NJ76 cells were transfected with a murine KbPB1703-specific TCRαβ derived from influenza-infected mice along with a mouse CD3 construct. The KbPB1703+TCRαβ+ NJ76 cells (PB1-NJ76) were incubated with mouse splenocytes, the influenza PB1703 peptide, splenotytes and peptide, or mouse α-CD3/human α-CD28 as a positive control for 4 hours and GFP expression in transfected NJ76 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FIG. 3A). The quantification of GFP levels is shown in FIG. 3B. The results show that PB1-NJ76 cells can robustly express GFP after specific peptide stimulation (PB1) with antigen-presenting cells. The gating strategy for GFP detection is shown in FIG. 7.


This TCR-activation reporting system has also been tested for TCRγδ signaling. Zoledronic acid (Zometa, Novartis) is an aminobisphosphonate that has demonstrated antitumor effects via inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis and induction of malignant cell apoptosis in humans43,44,45. In addition, zoledronic acid can specifically stimulate and expand human TRGV9/TRDV2 cells46,47,48,49. Since it can result in the accumulation of upstream metabolites in the mevalonate pathway, e.g. IPP, which induce the expansion of γδ T cells in vitro and in vivo, zoledronic acid pre-treatment can increase the cytolysis of some cancer cell lines by γδ T cells50. After transfection of the human TRGV9/TRDV2 vector and human CD3 vector into NJ76 cells, the transfected TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells were pulsed with 50 μg/ml of zoledronic acid for 3 hours, and washed and incubated the cells at 37° C. for 12 h. The GFP expression level was quantified in transfected TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells and control cells by flow cytometry. The Nur77-GFP expression level is shown in FIG. 3C (top panel). The transfected TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells showed a significantly higher level of GFP expression, which demonstrates that zoledronic acid can trigger γδ TCR signaling for the stimulation and expansion of γδ T cells. The fold change of GFP expression over time in stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 cells with zoledronic acid and non-stimulated TRGV9/TRDV2-NJ76 is shown in FIG. 3C (bottom panel).


Example 5

Effective TCR Activation Reporting by Nur77-Luc Jurkat 76 TCRαβCells


Nur77-GFP BAC DNA was modified by using recombineering to substitute the GFP with firefly luciferase. In particular, recombineering was undertaken to insert a cassette with Luciferase-SV40pA-PGK-Neo-bGHpA into the Nur77 gene. A clone with such insertion (Nur77-Luc BAC DNA) was isolated and sequenced. TCRαβJurkat 76 cells were transfected with the Nur77-Luc BAC DNA under a selectively complete RPMI medium with 500 μg/ml of Genetcin, yielding Nur77-Luciferase TCRαβJurkat cells.


To determine optimum conditions for luciferase assays, tests of various numbers of Nur77-Luciferase TCRαβJurkat cells per well were undertaken. In the tests, the cells were subjected to four hours of PMA/lonomycin stimulation followed by measurement in a luciferase reader. These values are shown in Table 5 under the column “Stimulated”. As a control, the luciferase reader was used to measure cells that were not stimulated. See Table 5, “Unstimulated” column. By comparison, the medium itself gave values of only 0 to 80 in the luciferase reader.









TABLE 5







Luciferase assay of various amounts of Nur77-Luciferase


TCRαβ Jurkat cells









Cell number
Unstimulated
Stimulated












1 × 104
2640
9600


2.5 × 104 
4400
19680


5 × 104
8640
37360


1 × 105
16400
62400


2.5 × 105 
34560
97840


5 × 105
41520
49520


1 × 106
39440
32880









When assaying luciferase, using a cell number of 1×105 provides a four-fold rise in luciferase activity as compared with the unstimulated cells.


Example 6

Rapid TCR Cloning by CDR3 Substitution Using Overlap Extension PCR and TCR Library


For TCRs, the only hypervariable regions are the CDR3 regions. Thus, cloning full length TCRs de novo for each application may expend unnecessary resources. To improve on this, a library was generated containing potential TRGV and TRDV “backbone” combinations that only require the swapping of individual CDR3 regions directly from PCR products. For example, in TRGV9/TRDV2 cells from PBMCs of healthy donors, the CDR3s of both γ and δ chains were found to be highly diverse (Table 4). To rapidly generate an array of TRGV9/TRDV2 clones with diverse CDR3γ and δ, a DNA linker, whose ends overlap with the TRGC and TRDV2 of the single cell PCR products, was designed. Similarly for other combinations of the TRGV/TRDV family several DNA linkers were designed. These DNA linkers contain the TRGC region, 2A and one of the TRDV regions, as is shown in FIG. 4. By overlap PCR with the single cell PCR products, DNA linkers, TRGV sense primers, and TRDC antisense primers, any pair of TCRγδ can be connected together. Next, the first-step PCR products were used as a mega primer with the appropriate clone from the library (e.g., TRGV9/TRDV2 with an irrelevant CDR3) as a template for the second-step overlap extension PCR. By using this substitution method, different γδ TCRs with matched CDR3s from the human single cell PCR products were successfully cloned. The same approach could be used with αβ TCRs, although the clone library would be larger. This CDR3 substitution approach can shorten the cloning process to within 5 days (FIG. 4).









TABLE 6







CDR3 amino acid sequences of paired human


TRGV9/TRDV2 cells isolated from PBMCs (n = 14)









Paired amino acid sequence
Paired amino acid sequence
Fre-


in TRGV9-CDR3 region
in TRDV2-CDR3 region
quency





ALFIQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 58)
ACDVLGDTEGRLI (SEQ ID NO: 59)
2





ALWDGPYYKKL (SEQ ID NO: 60)
ACDTVFTGGYSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 61)
2





ALWDIPPGQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 62)
ACDTLGETSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 63)
2





ALWEAQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 64)
ACDSGGYSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 65)
2





ALWEARQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 66)
ACDTLFPGGSATDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 67)
2





ALWEGTRGQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 68)
ACDTVGAHTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 69)
2





ALWEVGDQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 70)
ACDPLNTGGSFSLYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 71
2





ALWEVHSELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 72)
ACDTGGFRSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 73)
2





ALWEVHSELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 72)
ACDTGGFRSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 73)
2





ALWEVLELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 74)
ACDTVGMGIRLGDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 75)
2





ALWEVLVGELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 76)
ACDILGINTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 77)
2





ALWEVPELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 78)
ACERLGDYVPDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 79)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDRLLGDTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 81)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVAPRIGGLKYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 82)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVGGPYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 83)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVGGTAQ (SEQ ID NO: 84)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVSGGSTPTWYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 85)
2





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVSIFTGDTTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 86)
2





ALWEVRELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 87)
ACDTILIFSPTGGDTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 88)
2





ALWEVRELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 87)
ACVPLGDWTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 89)
2





ALWEVRKQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 90)
ACDTLGDDFDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 91)
2





ALWEVTHNRQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 92)
ACDTLLGTEAWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 93)
2





ALWGGAAGAYYKKL (SEQ ID NO: 94)
ACDGKTTDTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 95)
2





ALWGGELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 96)
ACDLLGDTRYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 97)
2





ALWVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 98)
ACVGITGDTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 99)
2





ALWEAHQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 100)
ACDSLGDSVDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 101)
1





ALWEANKKL (SEQ ID NO: 102)
ACDLLRGAGGQIDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 103)
1





ALWEAQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 104)
ACDTVGGAFDTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 105)
1





ALWEATGLGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 106)
ACDMGDTRSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 107)
1





ALWEDLELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 108)
ACDTVSWGKNTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 109)
1





ALWEKEELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 110)
ACDTGDWGSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 111)
1





ALWEKELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 112)
ACDILDSTGGTDLTAQLF (SEQ ID NO: 113)
1





ALWEMTQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 114)
ACDTVRNTGGYAFAGIDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 115)
1





ALWEPQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 116)
ACDKVLGDSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 117)
1





ALWESKELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 118)
ACEGLGATQSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 119)
1





ALWEVGELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 120)
ACDKLLGDNELI (SEQ ID NO: 121)
1





ALWEVHKLGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 122)
ACDSLLGKGTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 123)
1





ALWEVKELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 124)
ACDTLRGSADKLI (SEQ ID NO: 125)
1





ALWEVLQQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 126)
ACDTVPARHTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 127)
1





ALWEVPVLGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 128)
ACDTADRSSYTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 129)
1





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTLLGDPSSSWDTRQMF (SEQ ID NO: 130)
1





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTLSGGYARTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 131)
1





ALWEVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 80)
ACDTVGILGDTGLGLI (SEQ ID NO: 132)
1





ALWEVRELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 87)
ACDTIVSGYDGYDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 133)
1





ALWEVRELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 87)
ACSILGDKTSDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 134)
1





ALWEVRQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 135)
ACDTVSQRGGYSDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 136)
1





ALWEVRVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 137)
ACDPLERVGGPANTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 138)
1





ALWEVTELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 139)
ACDVLGDTGDDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 140)
1





ALWGRELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 141)
ACDTVGSNTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 142)
1





ALWVQELGKKIKV (SEQ ID NO: 98)
ACDVLGDTEADKLI (SEQ ID NO: 143)
1





ALYGSPSGEELGKKNQG (SEQ ID NO: 144)
ACDPLEGAGGHNTDKLI (SEQ ID NO: 145)
1
















TABLE 7







Sequences of primers to mouse 


sequences used in nested RT-PCR.


(All primers are forward primers except two


sequences indicated with “reverse” which represents


reverse primers. External primers were used in


the first round while internal ones were used in the


second round of PCR.)











Primer

SEQ

SEQ


name
External
ID
Internal
ID





TRGV1-3
GCAGCTGGAGCAAACTG
147
CTGAATTATCGGTCACCAG
148





TRGV4
CAAATATCCTGTAAAGT
149
GTTTAGAGTTTCTATTATA
150



TTTCATC

TGTCCTTGCAAC






TRGV5
GATATCTCAGGATCAGC
151
TACCCGAAGACCAAACAAG
152



TCTCC

AC






TRGV6
TCACCTCTGGGGTCATA
153
AGAGGAAAGGAAATACGGC
154



TG








TRGV7
CAACTTGGAAGAAAGAA
155
CACCAAGCTAGAGGGGTC
156



TAATGTC








TRGC
CTTTTCTTTCCAATACA
157
TCDGGAAAGAACTTTTCAA
158


(reverse)
CCC

GG






TRDV1
ACCCAAATGTTGCATCA
159
GTCTCTGACAATCCAAGAA
160



G

GG






TRDV2
TCTGTGCAGGTGGCAG
161
CCCTGGACTGCACCTATG
162





TRDV4
TGTATATTTGGAACCAG
163
GATCCTGCCTCCTTCTACT
164



TTGC

G






TRDV5
CATCACGCTGACCCAG
165
GCTCCACTGACCAGACAG
166





TRDV6/
CASCTTYTTAGTGGAGA
167
AYTCTGTAGTCTTCCAGAA
168


TRAV15
GATGG

ATCAC






TRDV7/
TCCTTGGTTCTGCAGG
169
TGCAGGAGGGGGAGA
170


TRAV13









TRDV8/
GCAGCAGGTGAGACAAA
171
CTCTGACAGTCTGGGAAGG
172


TRAV14
G








TRDV9/
CAGATGCAAGGTCAAGT
173
GGAGAAGGTCCACAGCTC
174


TRAV6-1/
GAC





6-2









TRDV9/
AAGGTCCACAGCTCCTT
175
CAACTGCCAACAACAAGG
176


TRAV6-3/
C





6-4









TRDV9/
GTTCTGGTATGTGCAGT
177
TCCTTCCACTTGCAGAAAG
178


TRAV6-5/
ATCC





6-7









TRDV10/
TCTGSTCTGAGATGCAA
179
GGITIMAGGAACAAAGGAG
180


TRAV4
TTTT

AAT






TRDV11/
GTACAAGCAAACAGCAA
181
ATTATTCTCTGAACTTTCA
182


TRAV16
GTG

GAAGC






TRDV12/
GTGCACTTGCCTTGTAG
183
AATAGTATGGCTTTCCTGG
184


TRAV21
C

C






TRDC
TGAAAGAATTTTGCATA
185
GAGATGACTATAGCAGGGT
186


(reverse)
TGGTTC

CG










Tables 8-11: “Partial” V and C regions amplified depending on the target sequence. (Column “Region” discloses nucleotide sequence positions based on the IMGT reference database, see Lefranc, M. -P., The Immunologist, 7, 132-136 (1999) and www.imgt.org/IMGTScientificChart/Nomenclature/IMGT-FRCDRdefinition.html.)









TABLE 8







Human γδ primer list with positions.











SEQ





ID




Primer name
NO:
Primer Sequence
Region





HuTRDV4/
27
CAAACCCAACCAGGA
76 . . . 93


TRAV14Ext

ATG






HuTRDV6/
31
TTGATAGTCCAGAAA
115 . . . 134


TRAV2Ext

GGAGG






HuTRDV/
29
GCAAGTTAAGCAAAA
 84 . . . 104


TRAV29Ext

TTCACC






HuTRDV7/
33
GACAAGGTGGTACAA
67 . . . 85


TRAVExt

AGCC






HuTRDV8/
35
CAGTCACTCAGTCTC
68 . . . 88


TRAVExt

AACCAG






HuTRDV1Ext
21
GCCCAGAAGGTTACT
61 . . . 79




CAAG






HuTRDV2Ext
23
ATTGAGTTGGTGCCT
61 . . . 79




GAAC






HuTRDV3Ext
25
TGTGACAAAGTAACC
52 . . . 74




CAGAGTTC






HuTRDCExt
37
CTTCATATTTACCAA
196-173




GCTTGACAG






HuTRDV4/
28
AGGAAAAGGAGGCTG
101 . . . 119


TRAV14Int

TGAC






HuTRDV6/
32
CGTTTGACTACTTTC
170 . . . 189


TRAV2Int

CATGG






HuTRDV/
30
CTGCTGAAGGTCCTA
197 . . . 216


TRAV29Int

CATTC






HuTRDV7/
34
ATCTCTGGTTGTCCA
 90 . . . 108


TRAVInt

CGAG






HuTRDV8/
36
TCTGGTACAAGCAGC
164 . . . 181


TRAVInt

CTC






HuTRDV1Int
22
AGCAAAGAGATGATT
184 . . . 205




TTCCTTA






HuTRDV2Int
24
TATATCAACTGGTAC
157 . . . 180




AGGAAGACC






HuTRDV3Int
26
GGTACTGCTCTGCAC
108 . . . 129




TTACGAC






HuTRDCInt
38
GATGACAATAGCAGG
150-129




ATCAAAC






HuTRGV10Ext
13
TTATCAAAAGTGGAG
52 . . . 72




CAGTTC






HuTRGV11Ext
15
GAACAACCTGAAATA
61 . . . 84




TCTATTTCC






HuTRGV3.5Ext
 1
TCTTCCAACTTGGAA
55 . . . 72




GGG






HuTRGV8Ext
 9
CCAACTTGGAAGGGA
59 . . . 77




GAAC






HuTRGV1.2.4.6Ext
17
GGGTCATCTGCTGAA
100 . . . 119




ATCAC






HuTRGV9Ext
11
cCAGGTCACCTAGAG
61 . . . 79




CAAC






HuTRGVAExt
 5
GGGTCATCCTGTTTC
26 . . . 43




CAG






HuTRGVBExt
 7
TGGCCTCCCAAAGTA
18 . . . 35




CTG






HuTRGCExt
19
GGTGTTCCCCTCCTG
186-171




G






HuTRGV10Int
14
CAGCTATCCATTTCC
73 . . . 91




ACGG






HuTRGV11Int
16
CATATCTTGGAAGGC
108 . . . 126




ATCC






HuTRGV3.5Int
 2
GGTCATCTGCTGAAA
101 . . . 119




TCAC






HuTRGV1.2.4.6Int
18
CCAGGAGGGGAAGGC
168 . . . 182





HuTRGV8Int
10
AAAATGCCGTCTACA
 83 . . . 100




CCC






HuTRGV9Int
12
TGTCCATTTCATATG
209 . . . 227




ACGG






HuTRGCInt
20
CCCAGAATCGTGTTG
167-151




CT
















TABLE 9







Mouse αβ primer list with positions


(V region external and C region reverse primers


and their positions).











SEQ





ID




Primer name
NO:
Primer Sequence
Region





mTRBV1Ext
187
TACCACGTGGTCAAGCT
101 . . . 118




G






mTRBV12Ext
188
GGGGTTGTCCAGTCTCC
 94 . . . 110





mTRBV13Ext
189
GCTGCAGTCACCCAAAG
55 . . . 71





mTRBV16Ext
190
CCTAGgcACAAGGTGAC
73 . . . 91




AG






mTRBV14Ext
191
GCAGTCCTACAGGAAGG
 88 . . . 105




G






mTRBV15Ext
192
GAGTTACCCAGACACCC
65 . . . 83




AG






mTRBV17Ext
193
GAAGCCAAACCAAGCAC
168 . . . 184





mTRBV19Ext
194
GATTGGTCAGGAAGGGC
 99 . . . 115





mTRAV2Ext
195
cATcTACTGGTACCGAC
159 . . . 178




AGG






mTRBV2Ext
196
CAGTATCTAGGCCACAA
130 . . . 149




TGC






mTRBV20Ext
197
GGATGGAGTGTCAAGCT
101 . . . 118




G






mTRBV23Ext
198
CTGCAGTTACACAGAAG
62 . . . 80




CC






mTRBV24Ext
199
CAGACTCCACGATACCT
73 . . . 91




GG






mTRBV29Ext
200
GCTGGAATGTGGACAGG
117 . . . 133





mTRBV3Ext
201
CCCAAAGTCTTACAGAT
61 . . . 80




CCC






mTRBV31Ext
202
CTAACCTCTACTGGTAC
143 . . . 165




TGGCAG






mTRBV4Ext
203
GACGGCTGTTTTCCAGA
60 . . . 77




C






mTRBV5Ext
204
GGTATAAACAGAGCGCT
155 . . . 174




GAG






Cba Rev Ext
205
CCAGAAGGTAGCAGAGA
252-233




CCC






mTRBV1Int
206
GTATCCCTGGATGAGCT
150 . . . 167




G






mTRBV12Int
207
CCAGCAGATTCTCAGTC
269 . . . 286




C






mTRBV13Int
208
GTACTGGTATCGGCAGG
147 . . . 165




AC






mTRBV14Int
209
GGTATCAGCAGCCCAGA
158 . . . 175




G






mTRBV15Int
210
GTGTGAGCCAGTTTCAG
123 . . . 140




G






mTRBV16Int
211
GAAGCAACTCTGTGGTG
109 . . . 127




TG






mTRBV17Int
212
GAACAGGGAAGCTGACA
219 . . . 236




C






mTRBV19Int
213
GGTACCGACAGGATTCA
167 . . . 184




G






mTRBV2Int
214
GGACAATCAGACTGCCT
222 . . . 239




C






mTRBV20Int
215
GCTTGGTATCGTCAATC
142 . . . 159




G






mTRBV23Int
216
GCCAGGAAGCAGAGATG
104 . . . 120





mTRBV26Int
217
GAggTGTATCCCTGAAA
120 . . . 139




AGG






mTRBV24Int
218
GCACACTGCCTTTTACT
141 . . . 159




GG






mTRBV29Int
219
GTACTGGTATCGACAAG
153 . . . 173




ACCC






mTRBV3Int
220
GATATGGGGCAGATGGT
 97 . . . 114




G






mTRBV31Int
221
CTGTTGGCCAGGTAGAG
206 . . . 224




TC






mTRBV5Int
222
GCCAGAGCTCATGTTTC
180 . . . 198




TC






Cbb Rev Int
223
GGGTAGCCTTTTGTTTG
88-68




TTTG






mTRAV10.10aInt
224
CTACACTGAGTGTTCGA
 89 . . . 109




GAGG






mTRAV12Int
225
GGTTCCACGCCACTC
242 . . . 256





mTRAV13Int
170
TGCAGGAGGGGGAGA
 98 . . . 112





mTRAV14Int
172
CTCTGACAGTCTGGGAA
113 . . . 131




GG






mTRAV15Int
168
AYTCTGTAGTCTTCCAG
251 . . . 274




AAATCAC






mTRAV16Int
182
ATTATTCTCTGAACTTT
248 . . . 271




CAGAAGC






mTRAV17Int
226
TATGAAGGAGCCTCCCT
 97 . . . 114




G






mTRAV18Int
227
CAAGATTTCACCGCACG
103 . . . 119





mTRAV19Int
228
GCTGACTGTTCAAGAGG
108 . . . 126




GA






mTRAV1Int
229
CTCCACATTCCTGAGCC
237 . . . 253





mTRAV21Int
184
AATAGTATGGCTTTCCT
220 . . . 239




GGC






mTRAV2Int
230
ACTCTGAGCCTGCCCT
265 . . . 280





mTRAV4Int
180
GGiTiMAGGAACAAAGG
210 . . . 231




AGAAT






mTRAV5-15-4Int
315
ATYCGTTCAAATATGGA
211 . . . 233




AAGAAA






mTRAV6-16-2Int
174
GGAGAAGGTCCACAGCT
178 . . . 195




C






mTRAV6-36-4Int
176
CAACtGCCAACAACAAG
209 . . . 226




G






mTRAV6-36-4Int-1
176
CAACtGCCAACAACAAG
209 . . . 226




G






mTRAV6-56-7Int
178
TCCTTCCACTTGCAGAA
271 . . . 289




AG






mTRAV6-6Int
231
ACGGCTGGCCAGAAG
217 . . . 231





mTRAV8Int
232
AGAGCCACCCTTGACAC
244 . . . 260





mTRAV9Int
233
GCTTYGAGGCTGAGTTC
239 . . . 257




AG






mTRAC Rev Int
234
GCACATTGATTTGGGAG
100-82 




TC






mTRAV1010aExt
235
AGAGAAGGTCGAGCAAC
66 . . . 84




AC






mTRAV11Ext
236
AAGACCCAAGTGGAGCA
64 . . . 81




G






mTRAV12Ext
237
TGACCCAGACAGAAGGC
68 . . . 84





mTRAV13Ext
169
TCCTTGGTTCTGCAGG
 88 . . . 103





mTRAV14Ext
171
GCAGCAGGTGAGACAAA
 87 . . . 104




G






mTRAV19Ext
238
gcAAGttAaAcAAAGCT
286 . . . 306




CTCC






mTRBV31Ext
202
ctaACcTCtacTGGTAC
176 . . . 198




TGGCAG






mTRAV15Ext
167
CASCTTYTTAGTGGAGA
175 . . . 196




GATGG






mTRAV16Ext
181
GTACAAGCAAACAGCAA
168 . . . 187




GTG






mTRAV17Ext
239
CAGTCCGTGGACCAGC
61 . . . 76





mTRAV6-56-7Ext
177
gTTCTGGTAtGTGCAGT
156 . . . 176




ATCC






mTRAV18Ext
240
AACGGCTGGAGCAGAG
59 . . . 74





mTRAV2Ext
195
caTcTACTGGTACCGAC
147 . . . 166




AGG






mTRAV21Ext
183
GTGCACTTGCCTTGTAG
103 . . . 120




C






mTRAV3Ext
241
GGCGAGCAGGTGGAG
64 . . . 78





mTRAV5-15-4Ext
242
GgcTACTTCcCtTGGTA
154 . . . 179




TAAGCAAGA






mTRAV4Ext
179
TcTGSTCTGAGATGCAA
113 . . . 133




TTTT






mTRAV6-36-4Ext
175
AAGGTCCACAGCTCCTT
182 . . . 199




C






mTRAV6-36-4Ext-1
175
AAGGTCCACAGCTCCTT
182 . . . 199




C






mTRAV6-6Ext
243
AGATTCCGTGACTCAAA
60 . . . 79




CAG






mTRAV7Ext
244
AGAAGGTRCAGCAGAGC
65 . . . 89




CCAGAATC






mTRAV8Ext
245
GAGCRTCCASGAGGGTG
 93 . . . 109





mTRAV9Ext
246
CCAGTGGTTCAAGGAGT
217 . . . 234




G






mTRAC Rev Ext
247
GGCATCACAGGGAACG
276-261
















TABLE 10







Human αβ primer list with positions


(internal forward V region and reverse C region


specific primers and their positions).











SEQ





ID




Primer name
NO:
Primer Sequence
Region





huTRAV34int
248
aTcTCaccATAAACTGCACG
101 . . . 120





huTRAV1int
249
GCACCCACATTTCTKTCTTAC
175 . . . 195





huTRAV10int
250
GAAAGAACTGCACTCTTCAATG
110 . . . 131





huTRAV12-1
251
AAGATGGAAGGTTTACAGCAC
230 . . . 250





huTRAV13-1int
252
TCAGACAGTGCCTCAAACTAC
133 . . . 153





huTRAV13-2int
253
CAGTGAAACATCTCTCTCTGC
266 . . . 286





huTRAV14int
254
AGGCTGTGACTCTGGACTG
110 . . . 128





huTRAV16int
255
GTCCAGTACTCCAGACAACG
166 . . . 185





huTRAV17int
256
CCACCATGAACTGCAGTTAC
116 . . . 135





huTRAV18int
257
TGACAGTTCCTTCCACCTG
261 . . . 279





huTRAV19int
258
TGTGACCTTGGACTGTGTG
114 . . . 132





huTRAV2int
259
CACTCTGTGTCCAATGCTTAC
145 . . . 165





huTRAV20int
260
TCTGGTATAGGCAAGATCCTG
164 . . . 184





huTRAV21int
261
AACTTGGTTCTCAACTGCAG
109 . . . 128





huTRAV22int
262
CTGACTCTGTGAACAATTTGC
137 . . . 157





huTRBV3int
263
aATctTcaCAtCAATTCCCTG
185 . . . 205





huTRAV23int
264
TGCATTATTGATAGCCATACG
216 . . . 236





huTRAV24int
265
TGCCTTACACTGGTACAGATG
159 . . . 179





huTRAV25int
266
TATAAGCAAAGGCCTGGTG
157 . . . 175





huTRAV26-1int
267
CGACAGATTCACTCCCAG
160 . . . 177





huTRAV26-2int
268
TTCACTTGCCTTGTAACCAC
104 . . . 123





huTRAV27int
269
CTCACTGTGTACTGCAACTCC
109 . . . 129





huTRAV29int
 30
CTGCTGAAGGTCCTACATTC
197 . . . 216





huTRAV3int
270
ATGCACCTATTCAGTCTCTGG
123 . . . 143





huTRAV8-24int
271
AGAGtgAAACCTCCTTCCAC
263 . . . 282





huTRAV30int
272
AGAAGCATGGTGAAGCAC
170 . . . 187





huTRAV35int
273
ACCTGGCTATGGTACAAGC
145 . . . 163





huTRAV36int
 34
ATCTCTGGTTGTCCACGAG
 90 . . . 108





huTRAV38int
274
CAGCAGGCAGATGATTCTC
183 . . . 201





huTRAV39int
275
TCAACCACTTCAGACAGACTG
130 . . . 150





huTRAV4int
276
ATTATATCACGTGGTACCAACAG
143 . . . 165





huTRAV40int
277
GGAGGCGGAAATATTAAAGAC
226 . . . 246





huTRAV41int
278
TTGTTTATGCTGAGCTCAGG
202 . . . 221





huTRAV5int
279
TACACAGACAGCTCCTCCAC
133 . . . 152





huTRAV6int
280
TGGTACCGACAAGATCCAG
163 . . . 181





huTRAV7int
281
TATGAGAAGCAGAAAGGAAGAC
226 . . . 247





huTRAV8-1int
282
GTCAACACCTTCAGCTTCTC
179 . . . 198





huTRAV8-7int
283
ATCAgaGGtTTTGAGGCTG
235 . . . 253





huTRAV8-6int
284
AACcAAGGACTCCAGCTTC
178 . . . 196





huTRAV8-3int
285
TTTGAGGCTGAATTTAAGAGG
244 . . . 264





huTRAV9-1
286
GAAACCACTTCTTTCCACTTG
262 . . . 282





huTRAC Rev
287
TGTTGCTCTTGAAGTCCATAG
181-160


INT








huTRBV10-1int
288
TGGTATCGACAAGACCTGG
157 . . . 175





huTRBV10-2int
288
TGGTATCGACAAGACCTGG
157 . . . 175





huTRBV10-3int
289
GGAACACCAGTGACTCTGAG
103 . . . 122





huTRBV11int
290
GACTCCACTCTCAAGATCCA
277 . . . 296





huTRBV12int
291
CYACTCTgARGATCCAGCC
281 . . . 299





huTRBV13int
292
CATTCTGAACTGAACATGAGC
304 . . . 324





huTRBV5-1
293
CTTGGAGCTGGRSGACTC
327 . . . 344





huTRBV14int
294
ATTCTACTCTGAAGGTGCAGC
278 . . . 298





huTRBV15int
295
ATAACTTCCAATCCAGGAGG
242 . . . 261





huTRAV4int
276
aTTATaTcacgTGGTACCAACAG
146 . . . 168





huTRBV16int1
296
CTGTAGCCTTGAGATCCAGG
279 . . . 298





huTRBV17int
297
TGTTCACTGGTACCGACAG
150 . . . 168





huTRBV18int
298
CGATTTTCTGCTGAATTTCC
247 . . . 266





huTRBV19int
299
TTCCTCTCACTGTGACATCG
278 . . . 297





huTRBV2int
300
TTCACTCTGAAGATCCGGTC
280 . . . 299





huTRBV20int
301
ACTCTGACAGTGACCAGTGC
307 . . . 326





huTRBV23int
302
GCAATCCTGTCCTCAGAAC
289 . . . 307





huTRBV24int
303
GATGGATACAGTGTCTCTCGA
241 . . . 261





huTRAV6int
280
TGGTAcCgACAAGATCCAG
157 . . . 175





huTRBV25int
304
CAGAGAAGGGAGATCTTTCC
221 . . . 240





huTRBV2728int
305
TTCYCCCTGATYCTGGAGTC
277 . . . 296





huTRBV29int
306
TCTGACTGTGAGCAACATGAG
276 . . . 296





huTRBV3int
263
AATCTTCACATCAATTCCCTG
280 . . . 300





huTRBV30int
307
AGAATCTCTCAGCCTCCAGAC
236 . . . 256





huTRBV4int
308
CCTGCAGCCAGAAGACTC
297 . . . 314





huTRBV5-5
309
TCTGAGCTGAATGTGAACG
277 . . . 295





huTRBV6-1
310
GTGTRCCCAGGATATGAACC
123 . . . 142





huTRBV6-4int
311
TGGTTATAGTGTCTCCAGAGC
243 . . . 263





huTRBV7-1
312
TCYACTCTGAMGWTCCAGCG
280 . . . 299





huTRBV9int
313
GTACCAACAGAGCCTGGAC
159 . . . 177





huTRBC Rev
314
TTCTGATGGCTCAAACACAG
54-35


Int
















TABLE 11







Mouse γδ primer list with positions.













SEQ

SEQ




Primer
ID

ID




name
NO:
External
NO:
Internal
Region





TRGV1-3
147
GCAGCTGGAGCAA
148
CTGAATTATCGGT
68-86




ACTG

CACCAG






TRGV4
149
CAAATATCCTGTA
150
GTTTAGAGTTTCT
251-281




AAGTTTTCATC

ATTATATGTCCTT







GCAAC






TRGV5
151
GATATCTCAGGAT
152
TACCCGAAGACCA
 81-101




CAGCTCTCC

AACAAGAC






TRGV6
153
TCACCTCTGGGGT
154
AGAGGAAAGGAAA
137-155




CATATG

TACGGC






TRGV7
155
CAACTTGGAAGAA
156
CACCAAGCTAGAG
 87-104




AGAATAATGTC

GGGTC






TRGC
157
CTTTTCTTTCCAA
158
TCDGGAAAGAACT
118-98 


(reverse)

TACACCC

TTTCAAGG






TRDV1
159
ACCCAAATGTTGC
160
GTCTCTGACAATC
 87-107




ATCAG

CAAGAAGG






TRDV2
161
TCTGTGCAGGTGG
162
CCCTGGACTGCAC
119-136




CAG

CTATG






TRDV4
163
TGTATATTTGGAA
164
GATCCTGCCTCCT
106-125




CCAGTTGC

TCTACTG






TRDV5
165
CATCACGCTGACC
166
GCTCCACTGACCA
71-88




CAG

GACAG






TRDV6/
167
CASCTTYTTAGTG
168
AYTCTGTAGTCTT
251-274


TRAV15

GAGAGATGG

CCAGAAATCAC






TRDV7/
169
TCCTTGGTTCTGC
170
TGCAGGAGGGGGA
 98-112


TRAV13

AGG

GA






TRDV8/
171
GCAGCAGGTGAGA
172
CTCTGACAGTCTG
113-131


TRAV14

CAAAG

GGAAGG






TRDV9/
173
CAGATGCAAGGTC
174
GGAGAAGGTCCAC
178-195


TRAV6-1/

AAGTGAC

AGCTC



6-2










TRDV9/
175
AAGGTCCACAGCT
176
CAACTGCCAACAA
209-226


TRAV6-3/

CCTTC

CAAGG



6-4










TRDV9/
177
GTTCTGGTATGTG
178
TCCTTCCACTTGC
271-289


TRAV6-5/

CAGTATCC

AGAAAG



6-7










TRDV10/
179
TCTGSTCTGAGAT
180
GGITIMAGGAACA
210-231


TRAV4

GCAATTTT

AAGGAGAAT






TRDV11/
181
GTACAAGCAAACA
182
ATTATTCTCTGAA
248-271


TRAV16

GCAAGTG

CTTTCAGAAGC






TRDV12/
183
GTGCACTTGCCTT
184
AATAGTATGGCTT
220-239


TRAV21

GTAGC

TCCTGGC






TRDC
185
TGAAAGAATTTTG
186
GAGATGACTATAG
151-131


(reverse)

CATATGGTTC

CAGGGTCG









REFERENCES



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The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.


All patents, applications, publications, test methods, literature, and other materials cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if physically present in this specification.












LIST OF SEQUENCES















HuTRGV3.5


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 1)


5′TCTTCCAACTTGGAAGGG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 2)


5′GGTCATCTGCTGAAATCAC3′





HuTRGV7


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 3)


5′TCTTCCAACTTGCAAGGG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 4)


5′GGTCATCTGCTGTAATCACTTG3′





HuTRGVA


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 5)


5′GGGTCATCCTGTTTCCAG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 6)


5′TACCTAAGGACCTGTGTAGAGG3′





HuTRGVB


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 7)


5′TGGCCTCCCAAAGTACTG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 8)


5′TCCTCTTTCTATGTCCCAGG3′





HuTRGV8


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 9)


5′CCAACTTGGAAGGGAGAAC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 10)


5′AAAATGCCGTCTACACCC3′





HuTRGV9


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 11)


5′CCAGGTCACCTAGAGCAAC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 12)


5′TGTCCATTTCATATGACGG3′





HuTRGV10


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 13)


5′TTATCAAAAGTGGAGCAGTTC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 14)


5′CAGCTATCCATTTCCACGG3′





HuTRGV11


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 15)


5′GAACAACCTGAAATATCTATTTCC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 16)


5′CATATCTTGGAAGGCATCC3′





HuTRGV1.2.4.6


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 17)


5′GGGTCATCTGCTGAAATCAC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 18)


5′CCAGGAGGGGAAGGC3′





HuTRGC


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 19)


5′GGTGTTCCCCTCCTGG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 20)


5′CCCAGAATCGTGTTGCT3′





HuTRDV1


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 21)


5′GCCCAGAAGGTTACTCAAG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 22)


5′AGCAAAGAGATGATTTTCCTTA3′





HuTRDV2


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 23)


5′ATTGAGTTGGTGCCTGAAC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 24)


5′TATATCAACTGGTACAGGAAGACC3′





HuTRDV3


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 25)


5′TGTGACAAAGTAACCCAGAGTTC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 26)


5′GGTACTGCTCTGCACTTACGAC3′





HuTRDV4/TRAV14


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 27)


5′CAAACCCAACCAGGAATG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 28)


5′AGGAAAAGGAGGCTGTGAC3′





HuTRDV5/TRAV29


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 29)


5′GCAAGTTAAGCAAAATTCACC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 30)


5′CTGCTGAAGGTCCTACATTC3′





HuTRDV6/TRAV23


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 31)


5′TTGATAGTCCAGAAAGGAGG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 32)


5′CGTTTGACTACTTTCCATGG3′





HuTRDV7/TRAV36


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 33)


5′GACAAGGTGGTACAAAGCC3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 34)


5′ATCTCTGGTTGTCCACGAG3′





HuTRDV8/TRAV38-2


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 35)


5′CAGTCACTCAGTCTCAACCAG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 36)


5′TCTGGTACAAGCAGCCTC3′





HuTRDC


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 37)


5′CTTCATATTTACCAAGCTTGACAG3′





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 38)


5′GATGACAATAGCAGGATCAAAC3′





CD3δ sense


(SEQ ID NO: 39)


5′CCCTCACTCCTTCTCTAGGCGCCGGAATTCGCCAGGATGGAACATAGC


ACG3′





CD3δ antisense


(SEQ ID NO: 40)


5′CCACGTCTCCCGCCAACTTGAGAAGGTCAAAATTCAAAGTCTGTTTCA


CCGGTCCCTTGTTCCGAGCC3′





CD3γ sense


(SEQ ID NO: 41)


5′GAATTTTGACCTTCTCAAGTTGGCGGGAGACGTGGAGTCCAACCCAGG


GCCCATGGAACAGGGGAAG3′





CD3γ antisense


(SEQ ID NO: 42)


5′CCTCGACGTCACCGCATGTTAGCAGACTTCCTCTGCCCTCAGATCTTC


TATTCCTCCTCAAC3′





CD3ϵ sense


(SEQ ID NO: 43)


5′CAGAGGAAGTCTGCTAACATGCGGTGACGTCGAGGAGAATCCTGGCCC


AATGCAGTCGGGCACTC3′





CD3ϵ antisense


(SEQ ID NO: 44)


5′GTTTTCTTCCACGTCTCCTGCTTGCTTTAACAGAGAGAAGTTCGTGGC


GGATCCTCCGATGCGTCTCTG3′





CD3ζ sense


(SEQ ID NO: 45)


5′CTCTCTGTTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCAT


GAAGTGGAAAGTG3′





CD3ζ antisense


(SEQ ID NO: 46)


5′GAGGGAGAGGGGCGGAATTGATCCTCGAGCAATTGTTAGCGAGGGGCC


AG3′





2A amino acid sequence F2A (foot-and-mouth


disease virus)


(SEQ ID NO: 47)


VKQTLNFDLLKLAGDVESNPGP





2A amino acid sequence T2A (Thosea asigna virus)


(SEQ ID NO: 48)


EGRGSLLTCGDVEENPGP





2A amino acid sequence P2A (porcine teschovirus-1)


(SEQ ID NO: 49)


ATNFSLLKQAGDVEENPGP





HuLinkerDV1


(SEQ ID NO: 50)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGCTGTTCTC





CAGCCTGCTGTGTGTATTTGTGGCCTTCAGCTACTCTGGATCAAGTGTGG





CCCAGAAGGTTACTCAAGCCCAGTCATCAGTATCCATGCCAGTGAGGAAA





GCAGTCACCCTGAACTGCCTGTATGAAACAAGTTGGTGGTCATATTATAT





TTTTTGGTACAAGCAACTTCCCAGCAAAGAGATGATTTTCCTTATTCGC





C3′





HuLinkerDV2


(SEQ ID NO: 51)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGCAGAGGAT





CTCCTCCCTCATCCATCTCTCTCTCTTCTGGGCAGGAGTCATGTCAGCCA





TTGAGTTGGTGCCTGAACACCAAACAGTGCCTGTGTCAATAGGGGTCCCT





GCCACCCTCAGGTGCTCCATGAAAGGAGAAGCGATCGGTAACTACTATAT





CAACTGGTACAGGAAGACCCAAGG3′





HuLinkerDV3


(SEQ ID NO: 52)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCatgattcttac





tgtgggctttagctttttgtttttctacaggggcacgctgtgtgacaaag





taacccagagttccccggaccagacggtggcgagtggcagtgaggtggta





ctgctctgcacttacgacactg3′





HuLinkerDV4


(SEQ ID NO: 53)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGTCACTTTC





TAGCCTGCTGAAGGTGGTCACAGCTTCACTGTGGCTAGGACCTGGCATTG





CCCAGAAGATAACTCAAACCCAACCAGGAATGTTCGTGCAGGAAAAGGAG





GCTGTGACTCTGG3′





HuLinkerDV5


(SEQ ID NO: 54)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGGCCATGCT





CCTGGGGGCATCAGTGCTGATTCTGTGGCTTCAGCCAGACTGGGTAAACA





GTCAACAGAAGAATGATGACCAGCAAGTTAAGCAAAATTCACCATCCCTG





AGCGTCCAGGAAGGAAGAATTTCTATTCTGAACTGTGACTATACTAACAG





CATGTTTGATTATTTCCTATGGTACAAAAAATACCCTGCTGAAGGTCCTA





CATTCCTGATATC3′





HuLinkerDV6


(SEQ ID NO: 55)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGGACAAGAT





CTTAGGAGCATCATTTTTAGTTCTGTGGCTTCAACTATGCTGGGTGAGTG





GCCAACAGAAGGAGAAAAGTGACCAGCAGCAGGTGAAACAAAGTCCTCAA





TCTTTGATAGTCCAGAAAGGAGGGATTTCAATTATAAACTGTGCTTATGA





GAACACTGCGTTTGACTACTTTCCATGGTACC3′





HuLinkerDV7


(SEQ ID NO: 56)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGATGAAGTG





TCCACAGGCTTTACTAGCTATCTTTTGGCTTCTACTGAGCTGGGTGAGCA





GTGAAGACAAGGTGGTACAAAGCCCTCTATCTCTGGTTGTCCACGAGGGA





G3′





HuLinkerDV8


(SEQ ID NO: 57)


5′catacattgtatcttgagaaatttttcccagatattattaagatacat





tggcaagaaaagaagagcaacacgattctgggatcccaggaggggaacac





catgaagactaacgacacatacatgaaatttagctggttaacggtgccag





aagagtcactggacaaagaacacagatgtatcgtcagacatgagaataat





aaaaacggaattgatcaagaaattatctttcctccaataaagacagatgt





catcacaatggatcccaaagacaattggtcaaaagatgcaaatgatacac





tactgctgcagctcacaaacacctctgcatattacatgtacctcctcctg





ctcctcaagagtgtggtctattttgccatcatcacctgctgtctgatgga





agaacggattctgctgcaatggagagaaatcaGCCACGAACTTCTCTCTG





TTAAAGCAAGCAGGAGACGTGGAAGAAAACCCCGGTCCCATGGCATGCCC





TGGCTTCCTGTGGGCACTTGTGATCTCCACCTGTCTTGAATTTAGCATGG





CTCAGACAGTCACTCAGTCTCAACCAGAGATGTCTGTGCAGGAGGCAGAG





ACCGTGACCCTGAGCTGCACATATGACACCAGTGAGAGTGATTATTATTT





ATTCTGGTACAAGCAGCCTCCCAG3′





Paired amino acid sequence in TRGV9-CDR3 region


(SEQ ID NO: 58


ALFIQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 60)


ALWDGPYYKKL





(SEQ ID NO: 62)


ALWDIPPGQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 64)


ALWEAQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 66)


ALWEARQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 68)


ALWEGTRGQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 70)


ALWEVGDQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 72)


ALWEVHSELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 72)


ALWEVHSELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 74)


ALWEVLELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 76)


ALWEVLVGELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 78)


ALWEVPELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 87)


ALWEVRELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 87)


ALWEVRELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 90)


ALWEVRKQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 92)


ALWEVTHNRQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 94)


ALWGGAAGAYYKKL





(SEQ ID NO: 96)


ALWGGELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 98)


ALWVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 100)


ALWEAHQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 102)


ALWEANKKL





(SEQ ID NO: 104)


ALWEAQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 106)


ALWEATGLGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 108)


ALWEDLELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 110)


ALWEKEELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 112)


ALWEKELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 114)


ALWEMTQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 116)


ALWEPQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 118)


ALWESKELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 120)


ALWEVGELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 122)


ALWEVHKLGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 124)


ALWEVKELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 126)


ALWEVLQQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 128)


ALWEVPVLGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 80)


ALWEVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 87)


ALWEVRELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 87)


ALWEVRELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 135)


ALWEVRQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 137)


ALWEVRVQELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 139)


ALWEVTELGKKIKV





(SEQ ID NO: 141)


ALWGRELGKKIKV





Paired amino acid sequence in TRDV2-CDR3 region


(SEQ ID NO: 59


ACDVLGDTEGRLI





(SEQ ID NO: 61)


ACDTVFTGGYSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 63)


ACDTLGETSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 65)


ACDSGGYSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 67)


ACDTLFPGGSATDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 69)


ACDTVGAHTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 71)


ACDPLNTGGSFSLYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 73)


ACDTGGFRSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 73)


ACDTGGFRSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 75)


ACDTVGMGIRLGDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 77)


ACDILGINTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 79)


ACERLGDYVPDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 81)


ACDRLLGDTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 82)


ACDTVAPRIGGLKYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 83)


ACDTVGGPYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 84)


ACDTVGGTAQ





(SEQ ID NO: 85)


ACDTVSGGSTPTWYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 86)


ACDTVSIFTGDTTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 88)


ACDTILIFSPTGGDTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 89)


ACVPLGDWTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 91)


ACDTLGDDFDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 93)


ACDTLLGTEAWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 95)


ACDGKTTDTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 97)


ACDLLGDTRYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 91)


ACVGITGDTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 101)


ACDSLGDSVDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 103)


ACDLLRGAGGQIDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 105)


ACDTVGGAFDTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 107)


ACDMGDTRSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 109)


ACDTVSWGKNTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 111)


ACDTGDWGSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 113)


ACDILDSTGGTDLTAQLF





(SEQ ID NO: 115)


ACDTVRNTGGYAFAGIDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 117)


ACDKVLGDSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 119)


ACEGLGATQSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 121)


ACDKLLGDNELI





(SEQ ID NO: 123)


ACDSLLGKGTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 125)


ACDTLRGSADKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 127)


ACDTVPARHTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 129)


ACDTADRSSYTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 130)


ACDTLLGDPSSSWDTRQMF





(SEQ ID NO: 131)


ACDTLSGGYARTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 132)


ACDTVGILGDTGLGLI





(SEQ ID NO: 133)


ACDTIVSGYDGYDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 134)


ACSILGDKTSDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 136)


ACDTVSQRGGYSDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 138)


ACDPLERVGGPANTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 140)


ACDVLGDTGDDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 142)


ACDTVGSNTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 143)


ACDVLGDTEADKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 145)


ACDPLEGAGGHNTDKLI





(SEQ ID NO: 146)


GILGFVFTL





TRGV1-3


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 147)


GCAGCTGGAGCAAACTG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 148)


CTGAATTATCGGTCACCAG





TRGV4


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 149)


CAAATATCCTGTAAAGTTTTCATC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 150)


GTTTAGAGTTTCTATTATATGTCCTTGCAAC





TRGV5


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 151)


GATATCTCAGGATCAGCTCTCC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 152)


TACCCGAAGACCAAACAAGAC





TRGV6


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 153)


TCACCTCTGGGGTCATATG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 154)


AGAGGAAAGGAAATACGGC





TRGV7


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 155)


CAACTTGGAAGAAAGAATAATGTC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 156)


CACCAAGCTAGAGGGGTC





TRGC (reverse)


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 157)


CTTTTCTTTCCAATACACCC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 158)


TCDGGAAAGAACTTTTCAAGG





TRDV1


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 159)


ACCCAAATGTTGCATCAG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 160)


GTCTCTGACAATCCAAGAAGG





TRDV2


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 161)


TCTGTGCAGGTGGCAG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 162)


CCCTGGACTGCACCTATG





TRDV4


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 163)


TGTATATTTGGAACCAGTTGC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 164)


GATCCTGCCTCCTTCTACTG





TRDV5


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 165)


CATCACGCTGACCCAG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 166)


GCTCCACTGACCAGACAG





TRDV6/TRAV15


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 167)


CASCTTYTTAGTGGAGAGATGG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 168)


AYTCTGTAGTCTTCCAGAAATCAC





TRDV7/TRAV13


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 169)


TCCTTGGTTCTGCAGG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 170)


TGCAGGAGGGGGAGA





TRDV8/TRAV14


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 171)


GCAGCAGGTGAGACAAAG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 172)


CTCTGACAGTCTGGGAAGG





TRDV9/TRAV6-1/6-2


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 173)


CAGATGCAAGGTCAAGTGAC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 174)


GGAGAAGGTCCACAGCTC





TRDV9/TRAV6-3/6-4


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 175)


AAGGTCCACAGCTCCTTC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 176)


CAACTGCCAACAACAAGG





TRDV9/TRAV6-5/6-7


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 177)


GTTCTGGTATGTGCAGTATCC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 178)


TCCTTCCACTTGCAGAAAG





TRDV10/TRAV4


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 179)


TCTGSTCTGAGATGCAATTTT





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 180)


GGITIMAGGAACAAAGGAGAAT





TRDV11/TRAV16


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 181)


GTACAAGCAAACAGCAAGTG





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 182)


ATTATTCTCTGAACTTTCAGAAGC





TRDV12/TRAV21


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 183)


GTGCACTTGCCTTGTAGC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 184)


AATAGTATGGCTTTCCTGGC





TRDC (reverse)


External Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 185)


TGAAAGAATTTTGCATATGGTTC





Internal Primer:


(SEQ ID NO: 186)


GAGATGACTATAGCAGGGTCG








Claims
  • 1. A method for cloning a T cell receptor (TCR) from a single T cell, wherein said method comprises: (a) performing RT-PCR with a primer mixture on a single T cell to simultaneously obtain both α-chain and β-chain TCR DNA sequences or both γ-chain and δ-chain TCR DNA sequences, wherein said TCR DNA sequences comprise a partial variable (V) region, CDR3 region, and a partial constant (C) region, wherein the primer mixture comprises:(i) sense primers comprising T-cell receptor alpha variable (TRAV) sequences and/or T cell receptor beta variable (TRBV) sequences and antisense primers comprising T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) sequences and/or T-cell receptor beta constant (TRBC) sequences, wherein the TRAV and/or TRBV sense primers and the TRAC and/or TRBC antisense primers are selected from the primers comprising SEQ ID NO: 27-36, 167-184, and 187-315, or(ii) sense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma variable (TRGV) sequences and/or T cell receptor delta variable (TRDV) sequences and antisense primers comprising T-cell receptor gamma constant (TRGC) sequences and/or T-cell receptor delta constant (TRDC) sequences, wherein the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers having SEQ ID NO: 1-38 and 147-186,(b) optionally sequencing the RT-PCR product obtained in step (a), and(c) cloning the paired αβ or γδ full length TCR CDR3 DNA sequences obtained in step (a) into a corresponding TCRαβ or TCRγδ library.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said T cell is a human or a mouse αβ or γδ T cell.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, comprising sorting of single T cells prior to step (a).
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein T cells are not stimulated prior to sorting.
  • 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers having SEQ ID NO: 1-38.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cell RT-PCR of γδ or αβ TCR and sequencing are performed within not more than 2 days.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRGV and/or TRDV sense primers and the TRGC and/or TRDC antisense primers are selected from the primers having SEQ ID NO: 147-186.
  • 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRAV and/or TRBV sense primers and the TRAC and/or TRBC antisense primers are selected from the primers having SEQ ID NO: 167-184, 187-247 and 315.
  • 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the TRAV and/or TRBV sense primers and the TRAC and/or TRBC antisense primers are selected from the primers having SEQ ID NO: 248-314 and 27-36.
  • 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the primer mixture comprises primers having SEQ ID NOS: 1-38.
  • 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the primer mixture comprises primers having SEQ ID NOS: 248-314 and 27-36.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/064735, filed on Dec. 2, 2016, which published as WO 2017/096239 A1 on Jun. 8, 2017, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/263,318, filed on Dec. 4, 2015, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT AS TO FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The invention was made with government support under grant AI107625 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/US2016/064735 12/2/2016 WO
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO2017/096239 6/8/2017 WO A
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
20070141048 Oleksiewicz et al. Jun 2007 A1
20110142842 Olweus et al. Jun 2011 A1
20150203886 Kishi et al. Jul 2015 A1
20150337369 Davis et al. Nov 2015 A1
Non-Patent Literature Citations (12)
Entry
Communication issued by the International Searching Authority in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/064735 dated Jun. 5, 2018 (International Preliminary Report on Patentability) 8 pages total.
Linnemann, C, et al. High-throughput identification of antigen-specific TCRs by TCR gene capture. Nat Med, 2013, 19:1534-1541.
Kobayashi, E, et al. A new cloning and expression system yields and validates TCRs from blood lymphocytes of patients with cancer within 10 days. Nat Med, 2013, 19:1542-1546.
Howie, B, et al. High-throughput pairing of T cell receptor α and β sequences. Sci Transl Med, 2015, 7:301ra131.
Dash, P, et al. Paired analysis of TCRα and TCRβ chains at the single-cell level in mice. J Clin Invest, 2011, 121: 288-295.
Wang, GC, et al. T cell receptor αβ diversity inversely correlates with pathogen-specific antibody levels in human cytomegalovirus infection. Sci Transl Med, 2012, 4:128ra42.
Communication issued by the International Searching Authority in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/064735 dated Feb. 8, 2017 (International Search Report).
Communication issued by the International Searching Authority in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/064735 dated Feb. 8, 2017 (Written Opinion).
Dash, P. et al., “Paired Analysis of TCRα and TCRβ Chains at the Single-Cell Level in Mice” Journal of Clinical Investigation (2011) vol. 121, No. 1, pp. 288-295.
Kobayashi, E. et al., “A New Cloning and Expression System Yields and Validates TCRs from Blood Lymphocytes of Patients with Cancer Within 10 Days” Nature Medicine (2013) vol. 19, No. 11, pp. 1542-1546.
Vogl, T. et al., “Restriction Site-Free Cloning (RSFC) Plasmid Family for Seamless, Sequence Independent Cloning in Pichia Pastoris” Microbial Cell Factories (2015) vol. 103, pp. 1-15.
Wang, G.C. et al., “T-Cell Receptor αβ Diversity Inversely Correlates with Pathogen-Specific Antibody Levels in human Cytomegalovirus Infection” Science Translational Medicine (2012) vol. 4, Issue 128, pp. 1-11.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20190040381 A1 Feb 2019 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
62263318 Dec 2015 US