The present invention relates to fusion proteins suitable for use as a medicament or research tool. Therapeutic uses of the fusion proteins may include the prevention or treatment of acute or chronic inflammatory and immune system-driven organ and micro-vascular disorders, for example, acute kidney injury, acute myocardial infarction, acute respiratory distress or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease fibrosis and other organ injuries resulting from tissue trauma and acute and chronic injury.

The present invention provides engineered platelets with chimeric platelet receptors (CPR) with a desired target specificity. Additionally, the engineered platelets may comprise cargo which may be released upon activation of the platelet. Additionally, the platelets may be generated in vitro from megakaryocytes engineered to generate non-thrombogenic platelets.

Provided herein are cell-distancing devices that protect cells that comprise them against host immune response when administered in a host. The disclosed cell-distancing devices engage with host immune cells and reduce their activity against cells that comprise the devices. Compositions of cell-distancing devices, cells comprising cell-distancing devices, and method of making and using such compositions are disclosed herein.

Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and compositions for enhanced expansion of NK cells in culture. In several embodiments, the methods utilize one or more soluble interleukins as culture media supplements at one or more time points during expansion of the NK cell, or other immune cell, the expansion employing a feeder cell population.

This invention relates to an immunoresponsive cell comprising a chimeric NKG2D protein. The immunoresponsive cell is a T-cell, natural killer (NK) cell, macrophage or neutrophil and the chimeric NKG2D protein comprises a human NKG2D extracellular domain or a variant thereof, and a murine NKG2D transmembrane domain or a variant thereof. The disclosure also relates to isolated polynucleotide(s) encoding the chimeric NKG2D protein and the use of the immunoresponsive cells or isolated polynucleotides in therapy or the treatment of cancer.

To provide a therapy and a diagnosis of cancer or an infection using recognition mechanism of a T-cell receptor. An NK cell function enhancer comprises, an active ingredient, a T-cell receptor chimeric protein being a fusion protein of: a T-cell receptor variable region capable of recognizing a cancer-specific antigen or a T-cell receptor variable region capable of recognizing an antigen specific to a pathogen causative of an infection, and an immunoglobulin Fc region, wherein the T-cell receptor chimeric protein binds to an MHC molecular complex of a cancer cell to down-modulate an MHC class I molecule complex, and the cancer cell is killed or damaged by recognition of an NK cell; and an NK cell function enhancer for imparting to an NK cell a function of recognizing a cancer cell or an infected cell infected with a pathogen causative of an infection, which expresses an MHC class I molecule, and killing or damaging the cancer cell or the infected cell by TDCC (T-cell receptor chimeric protein-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) activity.

Provided are cis-binding Siglec agonists. In certain embodiments, the cis-binding Siglec agonists comprise a scaffold bearing Siglec ligands, and a membrane-tethering domain. Also provided are compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising any of the cis-binding Siglec agonists of the present disclosure. Methods of agonizing Siglec activity, e.g., in an individual in need thereof, are also provided. Kits comprising the cis-binding Siglec agonists, as well as methods of making the cis-binding Siglec agonists, are also provided.

The present invention relates to a soluble dimeric fusion protein comprising a first and second polypeptides, wherein the first and second polypeptides each comprises a Dectin-1 receptor polypeptide fused to a human Fc domain via a dimerization linker. Methods of using the soluble dimeric fusion protein for immunizing a subject against a fungal infection, preventing or treating a fungal infection in a subject and detecting a fungal infection in a subject are also provided. In one embodiment, a chimeric molecule comprising the fusion protein and a payload is provided. In one embodiment, the payload is Amphotericin B.

Provided are methods and compositions for obtaining functionally enhanced derivative effector cells obtained from directed differentiation of genomically engineered iPSCs. The derivative cells provided herein have stable and functional genome editing that delivers improved or enhanced therapeutic effects. Also provided are therapeutic compositions and the use thereof comprising the functionally enhanced derivative effector cells alone, or with antibodies or checkpoint inhibitors in combination therapies.

Disclosed are plasmid and methods for genetically engineering NK cells using Adeno-associated viral (AAV) delivery of a CRISPR/CAS9 system. In some aspects, disclosed herein are method of using such engineering NK cells for treating cancers.