The invention provides compositions, kits and methods to treat a hyperproliferative disorder with an agent that increases expression of MCR1 and an MCR1 ligand. The invention also provides a method of treating drug-resistant melanoma, comprising administering an MCR1 ligand to a patient in need thereof. The present invention also provides in certain embodiments a melanoma-targeting conjugate comprising Formula I:
T-L-X
wherein T is a MCR1 ligand, L is a linker, and X an anti-cancer composition, for the therapeutic treatment of a hyperproliferative disorder. The present invention also provides methods, kits and uses of the conjugate of Formula I.

The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to an assay for hERG channel protein sensitivity to small molecule pharmacological agents. In one embodiment, the invention includes an engineered hERG channel protein. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of identifying small molecule pharmacological agents that interfere with repolarization of cardiac cells.

In some aspects, fusosome compositions and methods are described herein that comprise membrane enclosed preparations, comprising a fusogen. In some embodiments, the fusosome can the target cell, thereby delivering complex biologic agents to the target cell cytoplasm.

Described herein are methods for producing and utilizing an alternative signal 1 domain to construct an optimally signaling CAR. Alternative signal 1 domains of the present technology are based on alternatives to CD3ζ, including mutated ITAMs from CD3ζ (which contains 3 IT AM motifs), truncations of CD3ζ, and alternative splice variants known as CD3s, CD3 theta, and artificial constructs engineered to express fusions between CD3s or CD30 and CD3ζ. CAR polypeptides comprising alternative signal 1 domains are utilized to engineer CAR T cells. Further, this technology related to methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject in need thereof CAR T cells comprising alternative signal 1 domains.

A novel human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 and a monoclonal antibody ABC71 for preventing AG-CD71 are provided. The human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 is an abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC; the abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC refers to the TFRC carrying a saccharide structure Fucal-4(GlcNAcbl-3)[6OSO3]GlcNAc as an epitope. Also provided is an antibody for the human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71; the antibody is the monoclonal antibody ABC71 specific for the human bladder cancer AG-CD71; the monoclonal antibody is secreted from the hybridoma cell strain the preservation number of which is CGMCC No. 14312.

A novel human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 and a monoclonal antibody ABC71 for preventing AG-CD71 are provided. The human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71 is an abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC; the abnormal glycosylated transferrin receptor TFRC refers to the TFRC carrying a saccharide structure Fucal-4(GlcNAcbl-3)[6OSO3]GlcNAc as an epitope. Also provided is an antibody for the human bladder cancer marker AG-CD71; the antibody is the monoclonal antibody ABC71 specific for the human bladder cancer AG-CD71; the monoclonal antibody is secreted from the hybridoma cell strain the preservation number of which is CGMCC No. 14312.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clustering—an onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

The present invention relates to variants of porcine granulocyte colony stimulating factor (pG-CSF). The pG-CSF variants are useful in treating preventing or reducing the incidence of bacterial infections in swine. Methods of treating swine are disclosed.

Unique compounds useful for inhibiting a proteasome in a cell, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of their use are provided herein.

The present invention is directed to a method of inactivating virus that is present during production of a polypeptide of interest. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of on-column virus inactivation using a low pH and high salt wash solution that effectively inactivates viruses with minimum recovery loss of the polypeptide.