Disclosed herein are fusion proteins having a first domain that activates an antigen-presenting cell (APC) (e.g., a dendritic cell) by binding to an activation receptor of the APC, and a second domain that activates an immune effector cell (e.g., a T cell) by targeting a co-stimulatory signaling pathway of the immune effector cell, as well as polynucleotides that encode such fusion proteins. Disclosed herein are also genetically engineered immune effector cells expressing such fusion protein, methods of their production, and their uses in treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Disclosed are a type of mitochondria-targeted polypeptides, the preparation method and the uses thereof. The polypeptide is abbreviated as MTP. The synthesis method of the present disclosure is simple, and the mitochondria-targeted polypeptide prepared by the method can specifically target the mitochondria of cells and are basically non-toxic to cells. In addition, these synthesized polypeptides demonstrate good cell-membrane-penetrating properties, and can conveniently undergo further multi-functional derivation and modification, thereby providing a potential delivery tool for the preparation of a mitochondria-targeted medicament.

The present disclosure relates to engineered T cells and methods of making and using the same, as well as reagents for making the engineered T cells.

The present disclosure provides engineered Class 1 Type I CRISPR-Cas (Cascade) systems that comprise multi-protein effector complexes, nucleoprotein complexes comprising Type I CRISPR-Cas subunit proteins and nucleic acid guides, polynucleotides encoding Type I CRISPR-Cas subunit proteins, and guide polynucleotides. Also, disclosed are methods for making and using the engineered Class 1 Type I CRISPR-Cas systems of the present invention.

The present disclosure generally relates to viral-based expression systems suitable for the production of molecule of interests in recombinant host cells. The disclosure particularly relates to nucleic acid constructs, such as expression vectors, containing a modified arterivirus genome or replicon RNA in which at least some of its original viral sequence has been deleted. Also included in the disclosure are viral-based expression vectors including one or more expression cassettes encoding heterologous polypeptides. In some embodiments, the expression cassettes are configured and positioned at defined locations on the viral genome so as to enable expression of the heterologous polypeptides in a tunable manner.

Provided are a bifunctional fusion protein and pharmaceutical use thereof. Specifically, provided are a bifunctional fusion protein comprising an SIRPγ peptide variant and an anti-human PD-L1 antibody, an SIRPγ peptide variant, and pharmaceutical use thereof. The bifunctional fusion protein can specifically bind PD-L1 and CD47 to block the binding of PD-L1 or CD47 to a receptor or ligand thereof. In addition, also provided are preparation and application of the bifunctional fusion protein, and treatment of cancers and immune-related diseases.

Methods for treating coronavirus infection, such as an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, in a subject in need thereof include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an isolated polypeptide targeting the spike protein and the transmembrane region of the coronavirus envelope protein. Compositions include isolated polypeptides complementary to residues 30-38 of the envelope protein transmembrane region.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

The present invention relates to a novel peptide or a partial sequence thereof for enhancing expression efficiency of a target protein, and a fusion protein comprising the same. The novel peptide according to the present invention can enhance expression efficiency of a target protein, and furthermore, the peptide can also be applied to a solubility-enhancing fusion protein in order to enhance solubility of the target protein, so that solubility as well as expression efficiency of the target protein is enhanced, which allows such a peptide to be usefully used for production of a recombinant target protein.

The inventors succeeded in isolating a novel hemopoietin receptor gene (NR10) using a sequence predicted from the extracted motif conserved in the amino acid sequences of known hemopoietin receptors. It was expected that two forms of NR10 exists, a transmembrane type and soluble form. Expression of the former type was detected in tissues containing hematopoietic cells. Thus, NR10 is a novel hemopoietin receptor molecule implicated in the regulation of the immune system and hematopoiesis in vivo. These novel receptors are useful in screening for novel hematopoietic factors capable of functionally binding to the receptor, or developing medicines to treat diseases related with the immune system or hematopoietic system.