The invention provides genetically modified non-human animals that express chimeric human/non-human T cell co-receptor polypeptides (e.g., CD4, CD8α, CD8β), as well as embryos, cells, and tissues comprising the same. Also provided are constructs for making said genetically modified animals and methods of making the same.

The present invention provides gene edited modified immune cells suitable for adoptive T cell therapy comprising a nucleic acid capable of downregulating CD3δ, CD3ε, CD3γ, B2M, CIITA, TAP1, TAP2, TAPBP, NLRC5, HLA-DM, RFX5, RFXANK, RFXAP, and invariant chain; and further comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), an engineered T cell receptor (TCR), a Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR), dominant negative receptor and/or a switch receptor. Also provided are compositions and methods for generating the modified immune cell, and methods of using the modified immune cells for adoptive therapy and treating a disease or condition.

The invention features nucleic acid constructs encoding chimeric immune T-cell receptors (CIRs) that are useful for treating HIV in patients. In general, the CIRs contain an extracellular domain which targets HIV or HIV infected cells (e.g., the extracellular domain of CD4), a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain for mediating T-cell activation (e.g., CD3 zeta and/or the partial extracellular domain of CD28). The invention also features the use of host cells expressing CIRs in the treatment of HIV.

The present disclosure provides transgenic cells that express memory dimeric antigen receptors (mDARs), where the mDAR constructs comprise a JAK-STAT intracellular region having a cytokine receptor intracellular region which includes Box 1 and Box 2 motifs for binding a Janus kinase (JAK) which can play a role in JAK-STAT cellular signaling pathway to induce effector cell activation and proliferation. In one embodiment, the JAK-STAT intracellular region further comprises a CD3zeta intracellular signaling region having an intact ITAM region, or having ITAM 1 and 3, or having only ITAM 3 with a partial deletion. Transgenic cells expressing the mDAR constructs exhibit potent cytotoxicity, and release reduced levels of cytokines, compared to traditional DARs that lack a cytokine receptor intracellular region. The mDAR constructs have antibody-like properties as they bind specifically to a target antigen. Transgenic cells expressing the mDAR constructs can be used for directed cell therapy.

The invention relates to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) scaffolds comprising: a target binding domain; a spacer region; a transmembrane domain; and an intracellular effector domain, wherein the spacer region comprises at least one, or multiples of, domains 2, 3 or 4 or a combination thereof of a CD4 molecule. The invention also relates to polynucleotides and expression vectors encoding said CAR scaffold and immunomodulatory cells comprising said CAR scaffold. The invention also relates to methods of engineering an immunomodulatory cell to comprise said CAR scaffold

Some aspects of the methods and compositions provided herein relate to the disruption of at least one CD4 gene in a cell, such as a CD4+ T cell. In some embodiments, the disruption comprises use of a CRISPR guide polynucleotide. Some embodiments also include the preparation and use of a cell having at least one disrupted CD4 gene and a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Some aspects of the methods and compositions provided herein relate to CARs, such as an anti-CD4 CAR or an anti-CD19 CAR, and use to treat disorders including HIV, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

This invention relates to a conjugated molecule comprising a peptide derived from the CD4 receptor coupled to an organic molecule by means of a linker as well as a process for its preparation. Said organic molecule comprises a 5 to 21 amino acid anionic polypeptide. Such a conjugated molecule can be used in antiviral treatment, namely in the treatment of AIDS.

The invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T cell receptor (TCR) comprising extracellular domain disclosed herein. Some aspects of the invention relate to a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T cell receptor (TCR) comprising the extracellular domain disclosed herein. Other aspects of the invention relate to cells comprising the CAR or the TCR and their use in a T cell therapy.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of recombinant expression vectors, a kit adapted to carrying out the method, a vector used in the context of the method, a cell containing such vector and the use of the vector.

Disclosed herein are isolated follicular helper T cell (TFH) and engineered follicular helper T cell (TFH) and methods of isolating or engineering such cells. Further disclosed herein are methods of using such cells for treating diseases, such as cancer.