This invention pertains to a novel population of lymphocytes, methods for producing these, and their use in the treatment of diseases.

Compositions and methods are provided for genetically modifying cells to guide in situ chemical synthesis of electroactive, conductive, or insulating polymers on plasma membranes, organelle membranes, or subcellular surfaces of cells. In particular, compositions and methods are provided for genetically modifying excitable cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and endocrine cells to guide in situ chemical synthesis of polymers on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane. The subject methods can be used in various applications, for example, to assemble polymers in vivo at targeted locations to modulate electrical conduction and create new electrical conduction pathways, allow cell-type-specific neuromodulation, provide a conductive structure on cells for connection to electrodes, sensors, or other external electronic and electrochemical devices, and create a durable structure to replace damaged tissue for use in regenerative medicine.

Provided herein are anaplastic lymphoma kinase chimeric antigen receptors (ALK CARs). The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding ALK CARs, engineered immune cells comprising an ALK CAR, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and kits for administering the same. Methods of treating a subject with a disease by administering the ALK CAR or engineered immune cell comprising an ALK CAR, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are also provided.

Described herein are methods for identification of peptides that bind MHC-I molecules from within a starting pool of candidate epitope peptides, using a cell-based genetic immunopeptidomic screen.

The present invention provides a method for producing a nucleic acid molecule that can obtain a nucleic acid molecule that binds to a target and does not inhibit a function of the target. The production method for a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a method for producing a nucleic acid molecule that binds to a first biological molecule and does not inhibit a function of the first biological molecule, the method including the steps of: (A) bringing a candidate nucleic acid molecule into contact with the first biological molecule to select a nucleic acid molecule that has bound to the first biological molecule as a first selected nucleic acid molecule; and (B) selecting the first selected nucleic acid molecule as an intended nucleic acid molecule.

T cells are transfected with a recombinant RNA molecule that encodes at least one of an alpha chain and a beta chain of a CD1b restricted T cell receptor. Preferably, the so prepared T cells are used as a cell-based therapeutic composition to treat tuberculosis.

Provided herein are methods for transduction of T cells. In some embodiments, the provided methods include transduction of T cells by incubation with a retroviral vector particle, e.g., lentiviral vector, in which the cells have been selected for CCR7+ expression. The provided methods improve the process for genetically engineering T cells by increasing transduction frequency and/or by reducing the variability in transduction frequency among biological samples. Also provided are resulting cells transduced with a recombinant or heterologous gene, and compositions thereof. In some embodiments, the provided cells and compositions can be used in methods of adoptive immunotherapy

The disclosure provides a dual-vector intein-mediated protein trans-splicing system, cells, compositions, and methods of using the same for gene therapy. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating an autosomal recessive type of non-syndromic deafness, DFNB16, by delivering a STRC gene, encoding a STRC protein, using the dual-vector system described herein.

The present disclosure provides recombineering-editing systems using CRISPR and recombination enzymes as well as methods, vectors, nucleic acid compositions, and kits thereof. The methods and systems provide means for altering target DNA, including genomic DNA in a host cell.

The present invention relates to a chimeric costimulatory antigen receptor (CoStAR) useful in adoptive cell therapy (ACT), and cells comprising the CoStAR. The CoStAR can act as a modulator of cellular activity enhancing responses to defined antigens. The present invention also provides CoStAR proteins, nucleic acids encoding the CoStAR and therapeutic uses thereof.