A Salmonella Typhimurium mutant strain capable of RNAi delivery: higher tumor-targeting and lower toxicity.

Bacteria are highly versatile and useful tools that could deliver short interfering RNA. In this study, a phoP/phoQ double-deleted Salmonella Typhimurium named VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) based on the genetic background of VNP20009. The biological safety and function of VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) were also analyzed. Our study revealed the following results: (1) VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) exhibited lower titers in tumor-free livers and spleens than VNP20009, (2) The survival of VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) in macrophages and 4T1 tumor cells was significantly reduced compared with that of VNP20009, (3) The tumor-targeting ability of VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) was significantly enhanced compared with that of VNP20009, and the anticancer effects of VNP(pPhoP/Q(-)) and VNP20009 on tumor-bearing mice were similar, (4) VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) could release an shRNA-expressing plasmid and express the EGFP reporter gene in tumor tissue. Therefore, VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) exhibited a better safety level in tumor-free mice and elicited an anti-tumor effect on tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, VNP(PhoP/Q(-)) could release an shRNA-expressing plasmid into the cytoplasm of host cells to silence targeted genes.