Provided is an immunologically compatible and reversible universal pluripotent stem cell or a derivative thereof. An inducible gene expression system and the expression sequence of at least one immunologically compatible molecule are introduced into the genome of the pluripotent stem cell or the derivative thereof. The immunologically compatible molecule is used to regulate the expression of immune response-related genes in the pluripotent stem cell or the derivative thereof. The expression of the immunologically compatible molecule is regulated by the inducible gene expression system. The described method can increase the immunological compatibility between a transplant and a recipient, and can simultaneously reversibly restore the antigen-presenting abilities of transplant cells.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) of mammalian-hosted viruses, such as SARS-CoV and influenza viruses, have been recombinantly produced from Vero cells. The VLPs closely emulate the exterior of authentic virus particles and are highly immunogenic. They can elicit not only humoral but also cellular immune responses in a mammal. Compositions and methods related to the VLPs are also described.

The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

The invention relates generally to methods of generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that do not contain the reprogramming vector. In some embodiments, the invention relates to inducing pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing an episomal vector(s) comprising at least one expression cassette containing reprogramming factors and/or synthetic transcription factors and a suicide gene. In some embodiments, the invention relates to inducing pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing episomal vector(s) comprising expression cassettes containing reprogramming factors and/or synthetic transcription factors and a transcriptionally regulated EBNA-1 gene. In some embodiments, the invention relates to inducing pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing episomal vector(s) comprising expression cassettes containing reprogramming factors and/or synthetic transcription factors and both a suicide gene and a transcriptionally regulated EBNA-1 gene.

A Cas9 expression plasmid, a genome editing system and a genome editing method for Escherichia coli are provided. The Cas9 expression plasmid includes a tracrRNA sequence, a Cas9 gene and a chloramphenicol resistance gene (Cm.sup.R). The Cas9 expression plasmid is applied to CRISPR/Cas-coulped λ-red recombineering system for editing genomes of E. coli with high efficiency.

Two or more conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression systems provide high levels of penetrance in insects. Lethality is induced at an earlier stage of development and the risk of biochemical resistance is reduced, as compared to a single insect conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression system. The invention is useful for the control of insect populations.

The present disclosure relates to a mammalian cell line for producing adeno-associated virus (AAV), suitably including nucleic acids encoding helper genes and AAV genes, under the control of derepressible promoters. The disclosure also relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode such genes, as well as methods of using the mammalian cells for producing AAVs.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying specific binding partners (e.g. antibodies or antibody mimetics) which bind to a desired target polypeptide. In particular, the method involves expressing a library of specific binding partners in a population of mammalian cells, wherein each cell in the population of cells displays the target polypeptide on the outer surface of the cell, and identifying or isolating cells within the population of cells to which specific binding partners are bound.

The present disclosure provides an automated method of producing viral vectors, utilizing engineered viral vector-producing cell lines within a fully-enclosed cell engineering system. Exemplary viral vectors that can be produced include lentivirus vectors, adeno-associated virus vectors, baculovirus vectors and retrovirus vectors.

The present disclosure provides (a) vectors comprising a multi-antigen construct encoding two, three, or more immunogenic PAA polypeptides; (b) compositions comprising the vectors, (c) methods relating to uses of the vectors and compositions for eliciting an immune response or for treating prostate cancers.