Cancer associated inflammation has been reported to act as an immune suppressive mechanism through augmentation of myeloid suppressor cells, as well as downregulation of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling through the cleavage of the CD3 zeta chain. The teachings herein show the effects of concurrent anti-inflammatory treatment of dendritic cells (DC) using cannabidiol (CBD) together with inhibition of an immunological checkpoint, that is, silencing of NR2F6. Mixed lymphocyte cultures are used to increased potency of dendritic cells to stimulate allogeneic T cell proliferative and cytokine responses by the combination of NR2F6 gene silencing together with CBD. CBD alone appeared to inhibit DC maturation and allogestimulatory activity. These data support the utilization of small molecule inhibitors of NR2F6 together with CBD as combination therapies for immune modulation.

The present invention relates to a genetically modified PDC (plasmacytoid dendritic cell) line for secreting a cytokine and to its use for increasing the expansion of antigen-specific cells in immunotherapies.

Disclosed are means, methods, and compositions of matter for prophylaxis and/or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 by administration of dendritic cells in a manner and frequency sufficient to induce activation of innate and/or adaptive immune responses. In one embodiment the invention teaches administration of dendritic cells pulsed with one or more innate immune stimulants in a manner endowing said dendritic cell with ability to induce augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell number and/or activity. In another embodiment the invention teaches the use of dendritic cells stimulated with innate immune activators in a manner to allow for uptake of viral particles and presentation of viral epitopes to T cells in order to stimulate immunological activation and/or memory responses.

The present application provides enhanced antigen presenting cells comprising an agent that enhances the viability and/or function of the antigen presenting cell and/or an antigen and/or an adjuvant, methods of manufacturing such modified antigen presenting cells, and methods of using such modified antigen presenting cells, such as for modulating an immune response in an individual.

Methods for producing an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binding to an antigen of interest, methods for inducing proliferation of PBMCs, B cell activation and differentiation, B cell maturation, and/or promoting class switch in an antibody-producing PBMC to produce IgG, compositions for the in vitro immunization and methods for identifying an antibody-enhancing factor for in vitro immunization.

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions that contain COVID-19 peptide specific cytotoxic T cells, and to methods for treating or preventing COVID-19 infection.

Provided is a method for expanding a human DC cell. The method includes the step of contacting a cell sample of a DC cell to be expanded with a viral transactivator protein sourcing from simian-T-lymphotropic virus (STLV). Also provided are an expanded DC cell prepared by the method, and a DC cell and data repository constructed by the method.

The present disclosure relates, at least in part, to a closed and semi-automated system for the isolation of naive T cells, their expansion, and/or final harvest. The disclosure also relates to using those isolated cells in a large batch format for compiling stocks of stimulated CD45A+ T cells and/or using the stimulated CD45A+ T cells for therapeutic purposes.

The present invention provides CDCA1-derived epitope peptides having the ability to induce cytotoxic T cells. The present invention further provides polynucleotides encoding the peptides, antigen-presenting cells presenting the peptides, and cytotoxic T cells targeting the peptides, as well as methods of inducing the antigen-presenting cells or CTLs. The present invention also provides compositions and pharmaceutical compositions containing them as an active ingredient. Further, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cancer, and/or preventing postoperative recurrence thereof, using the peptides, polynucleotides, antigen-presenting cells, cytotoxic T cells or pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention. Methods of inducing an immune response against cancer are also provided.

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions that contain viral peptide specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), methods for producing viral peptide specific CTLs, and to methods for treating or preventing viral infection.