The invention relates to nucleic acids, including lentiviral vectors and lentiviral vector particles, encoding at least one Hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelop surface of genotypes A and/or C antigen, at least one polymerase of genotypes A and/or C antigen, at least one HBX protein of genotypes A and/or C antigen, at least one HBV consensus core of genotypes A and/or C antigen, and at least one HBV consensus core MHCI and MHCII epitopes of genotypes A and/or C antigen. The invention encompasses these lentiviral vectors and lentiviral vector particles, methods of making the vectors, and their use, including medicinal uses. The lentiviral vectors and lentiviral vector particles are for use in administering to humans to induce immune responses against the HBV antigens.

The present invention provides PiggyBac transposase proteins, nucleic acids encoding the same, compositions comprising the same, kits comprising the same, non-human transgenic animals comprising the same, and methods of using the same.

The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.

The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to chimeric animals comprising reprogrammed somatic cells of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.

Described are nucleic acid regulatory elements that are able to enhance liver-specific expression of genes, methods employing these regulatory elements and uses of these elements. Expression cassettes and vectors containing these nucleic acid regulatory elements are also disclosed. These are particularly useful for applications using gene therapy.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for the expression of small RNA molecules within a cell using a retroviral vector (FIG. 1A). Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can be expressed using the methods of the invention within a cell. In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for producing siRNA encoding lentivirus where the siRNA activity may interfere with the lentiviral life cycle. In yet a further aspect, the invention provides methods for expression of a small RNA molecule within a cell, such as an siRNA capable of downregulating CCR5, wherein expression of the small RNA molecule is relatively non-cytotoxic to the cell. The invention also includes small RNA molecules, such as an siRNA capable of downregulating CCR5, that are relatively non-cytotoxic to cells.

The invention relates to the field of pharmacology, specifically the field of drug-drug interactions and nephrotoxicity. An engineered, stable cell line of human renal cells is provided that allows screening for drug-drug interactions and nephrotoxicity.

The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic call to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.

Described are nucleic acid regulatory elements that are able to enhance liver-specific expression of genes, methods employing these regulatory elements and uses of these elements. Expression cassettes and vectors containing these nucleic acid regulatory elements are also disclosed. These are particularly useful for applications using gene therapy.

Methods and compositions for the rapid and reversible destabilizing of specific proteins in vivo using cell-permeable, synthetic molecules are described.