Genetically engineered activated phagocytic cells are described and related vectors, compositions, methods and systems which allow efficient cell targeting through enhanced phagocytosis of target cells and treatment of conditions in an individual.

Provided herein are compositions, reactions mixtures, mutant Ras proteins, kits, substrates, and systems for selecting a Ras antagonist, as well as methods of using the same.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the generation of an antibody or immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine, through epitope focusing by variable effective antigen surface concentration. Generally, the composition and methods of the disclosure comprise three steps: a design process comprising one or more in silico bioinformatics steps to select and generate a library of potential antigens for use in the immunogenic composition; a formulation process, comprising in vitro testing of potential antigens, using various biochemical assays, and further combining two or more antigens to generate one or more immunogenic compositions; and an administering step, whereby the immunogenic composition is administered to a host animal, immune cell, subject or patient. Further steps may also be included, such as the isolation and production of antibodies raised by host immune response to the immunogenic composition.

K-Ras is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancer. Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for modulating K-Ras and treating cancer.

K-Ras is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancer. Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for modulating K-Ras and treating cancer.

Compositions and methods for determining an increased likelihood of a response to a targeted treatment of a cancer disease including isolating genomic DNA from a patient sample, amplifying a fragment of DNA by means of PCR with a specific pair of amplification primers, determining if the amplified fragment comprises a wildtype sequence or a mutation by means of a High Resolution Melting Analysis (HRM), and correlating the presence or absence of a mutation with an increased likelihood of success of said targeted treatment. Respective primer pairs, compositions and kits are also claimed.

Efforts to use RNA-cleaving DIMA enzymes (DNAzymes) as gene silencing agents in therapeutic applications have stalled due to their low efficacy in clinical trials. Here the present invention reports a xeno-nucleic acid (XNA) modified version of the classic DNAzyme 10-23 that achieves multiple turnover activity under cellular conditions and resists nuclease digestion. The new reagent overcomes the problem of product inhibition limiting previous 10-23 designs using molecular chemotypes with DNA. FANA, and TNA backbone architectures that balance the effects of enhanced biological stability with RNA hybridization and divalent metal ion coordination. In cultured mammalian cells. X 10-23 facilitates persistent gene silencing by efficiently degrading exogenous and endogenous mRNA transcripts. Together, these results demonstrate that new molecular chemotypes can improve the activity and stability of DNAzymes, and may provide a new route for nucleic acid enzymes to reach the clinic.

The invention features a compound including a mutant KRAS sequence and a lipid, where the mutant KRAS sequence is conjugated to the lipid by a linker, and (i) the linker includes one or more polyethylene glycol blocks, (ii) the lipid is 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), and (iii) the mutant KRAS sequence comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-7 and 22-30. The invention features a composition including one or more compounds of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also features a method of treating a cancer in a human patient, the method including administering the composition to the patient. Further, the invention features a kit comprising the compound.

Mice comprising a transgene encoding a peptide (iBox) inhibitor of Group B p21-activated kinase are provided. Also provided are cells, tissue, and organs obtained from such transgenic mice. Also provided are methods for producing mice comprising an iBox-encoding transgene.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the generation of an antibody or immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine, through epitope focusing by variable effective antigen surface concentration. Generally, the composition and methods of the disclosure comprise three steps: a design process comprising one or more in silico bioinformatics steps to select and generate a library of potential antigens for use in the immunogenic composition; a formulation process, comprising in vitro testing of potential antigens, using various biochemical assays, and further combining two or more antigens to generate one or more immunogenic compositions; and an administering step, whereby the immunogenic composition is administered to a host animal, immune cell, subject or patient. Further steps may also be included, such as the isolation and production of antibodies raised by host immune response to the immunogenic composition.