Described herein are engineered retroviral delivery vesicle generation compositions, systems, and methods to deliver a cargo to a cell. The engineered compositions, systems, and method include one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more elements for forming a delivery vesicle and optionally one or more cargos.

Described herein are engineered retroviral delivery vesicle generation compositions, systems, and methods to deliver a cargo to a cell. The engineered compositions, systems, and method include one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more elements for forming a delivery vesicle and optionally one or more cargos.

The present invention relates to peptides derived from known intermediate filaments which are capable of inducing cell death in metazoan cells, and/or stimulating pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. The peptides consist of a first region of “n” amino acids, wherein “n” is 0 to 41 amino acids; a second region of 9 amino acids; wherein the sequence of 9 amino acids is [(a)/(b)]-[K/R]-[(a)/(b)]-[(a)/(b)/(c)/(d)]-[L]-[(e)]-[(a)/(b)/(c)]-[E]-[I] (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein (a) is a nonpolar aliphatic amino acid, (b) is a polar uncharged amino acid, (c) is a positively charged amino acid, (d) is an aromatic amino acid, (e) is a negatively charged amino acid; and a third region of “m” amino acids, wherein “m” is 0 to 41 amino acids. The peptides of the invention have a minimum length of 9 amino acids and a maximum length of 50 amino acids. These peptides may be useful as new adjuvants in vaccines, either alone or in combination with other therapies; as well as chemotherapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other drugs or therapies.

The present invention relates to peptides derived from known intermediate filaments which are capable of inducing cell death in metazoan cells, and/or stimulating pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. The peptides consist of a first region of “n” amino acids, wherein “n” is 0 to 41 amino acids; a second region of 9 amino acids; wherein the sequence of 9 amino acids is [(a)/(b)]-[K/R]-[(a)/(b)]-[(a)/(b)/(c)/(d)]-[L]-[(e)]-[(a)/(b)/(c)]-[E]-[I] (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein (a) is a nonpolar aliphatic amino acid, (b) is a polar uncharged amino acid, (c) is a positively charged amino acid, (d) is an aromatic amino acid, (e) is a negatively charged amino acid; and a third region of “m” amino acids, wherein “m” is 0 to 41 amino acids. The peptides of the invention have a minimum length of 9 amino acids and a maximum length of 50 amino acids. These peptides may be useful as new adjuvants in vaccines, either alone or in combination with other therapies; as well as chemotherapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other drugs or therapies.

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

Provided are compositions, systems, and methods useful for effecting gene editing in eukaryotic cells. Compositions include plasmids that encode one or more viral fusion proteins in which one or more viral proteins are fused with an aptamer-binding protein. Compositions also include plasmids that encode a non-viral nucleic acid sequence, wherein the non-viral nucleic acid sequence encodes a CRISPR system component. In some instances, the non-viral nucleic acid sequence also includes an aptamer sequence. The plasmids can be used to generate viral particles, including lentivirus-like particles that contain a viral fusion protein and a non-viral RNA sequence. Systems of producing such viral particles are provided. Also provided are methods of using the viral particles of the disclosure to effect gene editing in eukaryotic cells.

Provided are compositions, systems, and methods useful for effecting gene editing in eukaryotic cells. Compositions include plasmids that encode one or more viral fusion proteins in which one or more viral proteins are fused with an aptamer-binding protein. Compositions also include plasmids that encode a non-viral nucleic acid sequence, wherein the non-viral nucleic acid sequence encodes a CRISPR system component. In some instances, the non-viral nucleic acid sequence also includes an aptamer sequence. The plasmids can be used to generate viral particles, including lentivirus-like particles that contain a viral fusion protein and a non-viral RNA sequence. Systems of producing such viral particles are provided. Also provided are methods of using the viral particles of the disclosure to effect gene editing in eukaryotic cells.

Artificial target cells lines with improved distinction between background killing and ADCC and/or CAR-mediated killing are presented. In some embodiments, the artificial cells are recombinant SUP-B15 cells expressing target antigens that are recognized by a CAR, and/or a bispecific engager, or a therapeutic antibody.

Artificial target cells lines with improved distinction between background killing and ADCC and/or CAR-mediated killing are presented. In some embodiments, the artificial cells are recombinant SUP-B15 cells expressing target antigens that are recognized by a CAR, and/or a bispecific engager, or a therapeutic antibody.

The present disclosure provides methods for genetically modifying lymphocytes and methods for performing adoptive cellular therapy that include transducing T cells and/or NK cells. The methods can include inhibitory RNA molecule(s) and/or engineered signaling polypeptides that can include a lymphoproliferative element, and/or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), for example a microenvironment restricted biologic CAR (MRB-CAR). Additional elements of such engineered signaling polypeptides are provided herein, such as those that drive proliferation and regulatory elements therefor, as well as replication incompetent recombinant retroviral particles and packaging cell lines and methods of making the same. Numerous elements and methods for regulating transduced and/or genetically modified T cells and/or NK cells are provided, such as, for example, those including riboswitches, MRB-CARs, recognition domains, and/or pH-modulating agents.