The present invention relates, in part, to chimeric proteins which include the extracellular domain of V-set and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein 8 (VSIG8) and their use in the treatment of diseases, such as immunotherapies for cancer and/or inflammatory diseases.

A trifunctional molecule is provided, comprising (i) a target-specific ligand, (ii) a ligand that binds a protein associated with a TCR complex, and (iii) a T cell receptor signaling domain polypeptide. Variants of the molecule are provided, including variants that exhibit optimized surface expression, transduction efficiency, and effector functionality. Variations include, for example, different ligands that bind CD3 epsilon (e.g., OKT3, L2K, F6A, UCHT1 and humanized UCHT1), different signaling domains, and different linkers between domains.

The invention provides genetically modified non-human animals that express chimeric human/non-human MHC I and MHC II polypeptides and/or human or humanized β2 microglobulin polypeptide, 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. Methods of using the genetically modified animals to study various aspects of human immune system are provided.

Chimeric transmembrane immunoreceptors (CAR) which include an extracellular domain that includes chlorotoxin or a related toxin, or a variant of chlorotoxin or a related toxin, that binds to human glioma or other human tumor cells, a transmembrane region, a costimulatory domain and an intracellular signaling domain are described.

Disclosed are a fusion peptide of CD4 helper T cell epitopes, a nucleic acid encoding the same and an immunogenic composition comprising the same. The epitope fusion peptide comprises a cytomegalovirus epitope and an influenza virus epitope. The epitope fusion peptide can substantially improve the level of cellular immune response to a target immunogen, particularly a weak immunogen, and is an effective means for overcoming the immune tolerance of immune system to an antigen, particularly to a tumor antigen or an infection-related antigen, and is suitable for efficiently enhancing the efficacy of vaccine.

The present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing an antigen recognizing receptor and an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor (iCAR). Methods of using the immunoresponsive cell include those for the treatment of neoplasia and other pathologies where an increase in an antigen-specific immune response is desired.

The disclosure provides, in various embodiments, polynucleotides and vectors comprising sequences encoding a mono-specific or a bi-specific CAR that is capable of binding to a first TAA, or a T-cell engager that is capable of binding to CD3 and a second TAA, or a combination thereof. The disclosure also provides, in various embodiments, T lymphocytes comprising one or more of the polynucleotides or vectors; compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) and kits comprising one or more of the T lymphocytes; methods of treating a cancer in mammalian subject (e.g., a human), and methods of inducing T cell-mediated cytolysis of cancer cells (e.g., solid tumor cells).

A trifunctional molecule comprising a target-specific ligand, a ligand that binds a protein associated with the TCR complex and a T cell receptor signaling domain polypeptide is provided. The ligand that binds a protein associated with a TCR complex is UCHT1 with a Y182T mutation. Engineering T cells with this novel receptor engenders antigen specific activation of numerous T cell functions, including cytokine production, degranulation and cytolysis.

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.

The present invention is directed to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) compositions and methods of their use in cancer and anti-viral immunotherapy. In particular, the CAR of the invention comprises a costimulatory signal (CSS) domain comprising herpes virus entry mediator protein (HVEM) or a functional fragment or variant thereof. CARs comprising such a HVEM CSS exhibit enhanced effector function.