IFN-gamma Enzyme-Linked Immunospot (ELISPot) Assay and Analysis

The MITS core offers comprehensive services to run IFNg ELISpot Assays. This assay uses antibodies and peptides to stimulate and capture individual IFNg producing cells in patient blood specimens. The investigator will provide their unique peptides of interest, or for a T-cell functionality assessment, the MITS Core provides all test reagents. The 96-well plates are read with the Biosys BioReader 7000 ELISpot Plate Reader which provides automated detection and enumeration of individual IFNg producing cells.

Correlative flow cytometry analyses for cell viability and CD3, CD4, and CD8 is recommended in tandem with ELISpots, and can be done by the MITS Core for an additional fee.

For questions regarding ELISpot services, please contact: Kelly Smith at 434-243-6505 or kts4v@virginia.edu.

Phase I/II clinical trial of a helper peptide vaccine plus PD-1 blockade in PD-1 antibody-naïve and PD-1 antibody-experienced patients with melanoma (MEL64). Vavolizza RD, Petroni GR, Mauldin IS, Chianese-Bullock KA, Olson WC, Smith KT, Dengel LT, Haden K, Grosh WW, Kaur V, Varhegyi N, Gaughan EM, Slingluff CL Jr. J Immunother Cancer. 2022 Sep;10(9):e005424. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005424. PMID: 36100309.

Immunogenicity in humans of a transdermal multipeptide melanoma vaccine administered with or without a TLR7 agonist. Meneveau MO, Petroni GR, Salerno EP, Lynch KT, Smolkin M, Woodson E, Chianese-Bullock KA, Olson WC, Deacon D, Patterson JW, Grosh WW, Slingluff CL. J Immunother Cancer. 2021 May;9(5):e002214. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002214. PMID: 34035112.

Trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a melanoma helper peptide vaccine plus incomplete Freund’s adjuvant, cyclophosphamide, and polyICLC (Mel63). Slingluff CL Jr, Petroni GR, Chianese-Bullock KA, Wages NA, Olson WC, Smith KT, Haden K, Dengel LT, Dickinson A, Reed C, Gaughan EM, Grosh WW, Kaur V, Varhegyi N, Smolkin M, Galeassi NV, Deacon D, Hall EH.  J Immunother Cancer. Jan; 9(1):e000934, 2021. DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000934.

A phase 1 study of NY-ESO-1 vaccine + anti-CTLA4 antibody Ipilimumab (IPI) in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Clinical Trial OncoImmunology (online). Craig L. Slingluff jr, Hassane M. Zarour, Hussein Abdul-Hassan Tawbi, John M. Kirkwood, Michael A. Postow, Philip Friedlander, Craig E. Devoe, Elizabeth M. Gaughan, Ileana S. Mauldin, Walter C. Olson jr, Kelly T. Smith, Mary J. Macri, Toni Ricciardi, Aileen Ryan, Ralph Venhaus & Jedd D. Wolchok. March 26. Volume 10, Issue 1, 2021. DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2021.1898105.

Phase I/II trial of a long peptide vaccine (LPV7) plus toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists with or without incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) for resected high-risk melanoma. Patel SP, Petroni GR, Roszik J, Olson WC, Wages NA, Chianese-Bullock KA, Smolkin M, Varhegyi N, Gaughan E, Smith KT, Haden K, Hall EH, Gnjatic S, Hwu P, Slingluff CL.  J Immunother Cancer. Aug; 9(8):e003220. 2021. DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003220.

MHC-restricted phosphopeptide antigens: preclinical validation and first-in-humans clinical trial in participants with high-risk melanoma. Engelhard VH, Obeng RC, Cummings KL, Petroni GR, Ambakhutwala AL, Chianese-Bullock KA, Smith KT, Lulu A, Varhegyi N, Smolkin ME, Myers P, Mahoney KE, Shabanowitz J, Buettner N, Hall EH, Haden K, Cobbold M, Hunt DF, Weiss G, Gaughan E, Slingluff CL Jr. J Immunother Cancer, 2020. DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000262.