The present invention is directed to recombinant lentiviral particles that array the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein on their surface (“SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles”), and that optionally comprise an additional copy of a polynucleotide encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in their viral genome, and to methods for the production of such lentiviral particles. The invention particularly pertains to such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles that have been engineered to be incapable of mediating the integration of their lentiviral genome into the chromosomes of infected cells and/or to be incapable of mediating the reverse transcription of their lentiviral genome. The present invention is also directed to “SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Vaccine” pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Particles. The present invention is additionally directed to the use of such SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Lentiviral Vaccine pharmaceutical compositions for providing immunity to COVID-19 infection to humans and other mammals, either directly or as an inactivated form.

A method for producing γδ T cells modified by a chimeric antigen receptor, comprising: transfecting K562 cells with shFPPS targeted to FPP synthase by means of a lentiviral vector, such that the expression of FPPS in the K562 cells is lowered and a K562-shFPPS cell line with reduced FPPS expression is constructed; adding the K562-shFPPS cell line into a γδ T cell culture system for co-culturing with the γδ T cells, wherein it is found that the K562-shFPPS cell line can facilitate in vitro differentiation and proliferation of the γδ T cells; and adding a CAR-expressing lentiviral vector to the γδ T cell culture system comprising the cell line for co-culturing, wherein it is found that the K562-shFPPS cell line can further effectively improve the transfection rate of CAR genes. The provided solution effectively overcomes the technical challenge of the large-scale production of CAR-γδ T cells, and has a good application prospect.

Antigen binding molecules, chimeric receptors, and engineered immune cells to DLL3 are disclosed in accordance with the invention. The invention further relates to vectors, compositions, and methods of treatment and/or detection using the DLL3 antigen binding molecules and engineered immune cells.

The disclosure relates generally to nucleic acid vectors and packaging cell lines for in vivo expansion of T-cells. More particularly, the disclosure relates to direct intratumoral injection of a lentiviral vector adapted for transduction and drug-mediated expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in vivo.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing age related macular degeneration and other conditions involving macular degeneration, ocular neovascularization, or ocular inflammation. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that involves administering an expression vector that delivers a secretable and cell penetrating CARD to a subject in need of treatment or prevention of age-related macular degeneration or another condition involving macular degeneration or ocular neovascularization.

Provided herein are methods for enhancing the transduction efficiency of vectors into cells, e.g., primary human T lymphocytes.

Chimeric antigen receptors containing CD123 antigen binding domains are disclosed. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, antigen binding fragments, and pharmaceutical compositions, relating to the chimeric antigen receptors are also disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing cancer in a subject, and methods of making chimeric antigen receptor T cells are also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to chimeric animals comprising reprogrammed somatic cells of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.

Human Neural precursor cells (hNPCs)/cell lines derived from human pluripotent stem cells have been stably transduced with inducible lentiviral constructs for knockdown of STIM1 thereby changing their gene expression. The said Human Neural precursor cells (hNPCs)/cell lines has selectively inducible knockdown of STIM1 via stable transduction of lentiviral shRNA vector followed by Doxycycline treatment. Human Neural precursor cells (hNPCs)/cell lines with stable knockdown STIM1 exhibits attenuated SOCE with downregulation of genes associated with cell proliferation and upregulation of genes for neural differentiation.

This invention relates to improved methods of genetically modifying animal cells by decreasing the distance between cells and genetic modification agents in order to increase the efficiency of genetic modification and/or reduce use of gene modification agents.