The present disclosure relates generally to methods of inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into enteric nitrergic neurons, and enteric nitrergic neurons produced by such methods. Also provided are used of such enteric nitrergic neurons for screening potential therapeutic agents suitable for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders, such as gastroparesis, esophageal achalasia, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and applications of such enteric nitrergic neurons in regenerative medicine, such as cell transplantation therapy, for preventing and/or treating enteric nervous system disorders.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

The present invention provides fluorescent compounds of formula (I) as disclosed herein or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further provided are uses of said fluorescent compounds in methods of determining, in a sample, the presence and/or amount of pluripotent stem cells or cells undergoing reprogramming to become induced pluripotent stem cells. ##STR00001##

Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.

The present disclosure provides molecular tools, methods and kits for using cell division loci (CDLs) to control cell proliferation in animal cells. CDLs, as provided herein, are loci whose transcription product(s) are expressed during cell division. CDLs may be genetically modified, as described herein, to comprise a negative selectable marker and/or an inducible activator-based gene expression system, which allows a user to permit, ablate, and/or inhibit proliferation of the genetically modified cell(s) by adding or removing an appropriate inducer.

Disclosed herein are non-human animals (e.g., rodents, e.g., mice or rats) genetically engineered to express a humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., humanized CD4 and/or CD8 (e.g., CD8α and/or CD8β)), a human or humanized T cell receptor (TCR) comprising a variable domain encoded by at least one human TCR variable region gene segment and/or a human or humanized major histocompatibility complex that binds the humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., human or humanized MHC II (e.g., MHC II α and/or MHC II β chains) and/or MHC I (e.g., MHC Iα) respectively, and optionally human or humanized β2 microglobulin). Also provided are embryos, tissues, and cells expressing the same. Methods for making a genetically engineered animal that expresses at least one humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., humanized CD4 and/or CD8), at least one humanized MHC that associates with the humanized T cell co-receptor (e.g., humanized MHC II and/or MHC I, respectively) and/or the humanized TCR are also provided. Methods for using the genetically engineered animals that mount a substantially humanized T cell immune response for developing human therapeutics are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method to differentiate pluripotent stem cells to a primitive streak cell population, in a stepwise manner for further maturation to definitive endoderm.

Provided herein are blastoids and methods for producing the same that are obtained from an extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cell. The herein-disclosed methods provide a unique and highly malleable in vitro system for studying early preimplantation development. Also provided are EPS-blastoids derived from a somatic cell.

A method of treating diseases with the compound of Formula I is disclosed. The compound exhibits therapeutic effect to the treatment of various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, muscular dystrophy, and cardiovascular diseases.