The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving efficacy of viral transduction of cells. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and materials useful for safely and reliably improving the efficiency of methods and materials useful for safely and reliably improving the efficiency of methods for transducing cells, such as human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), with viruses and/or viral vectors. The compositions and methods are useful for therapeutic indications amenable to treatment with hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies.

Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to non-VSV rhabdoviruses and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.

Described herein is a method of preventing or treating a disease in a mammalian subject, comprising administering to the subject who is in need thereof an effective dosage of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a virus like particle (VLP) comprising: an alphavirus replicon comprising a recombinant polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a sequence encoding both subunits of a human class II major histocompatibility antigen, a retroviral gag protein, and a fusogenic envelope protein, wherein the VLP does not contain an alphavirus structural protein gene.

Use of cyclosporin H (CsH) or a derivative thereof for increasing the efficiency of transduction of an isolated population of cells by a viral vector and/or increasing the efficiency of gene editing of an isolated population of cells when transduced by a viral vector.

Recombinant viruses, comprising a lentiviral vector carrying a heterologous transgene, packaged in an envelope containing at least one heterologous envelope protein, are described. Also described are methods of producing these recombinant viruses and methods of using these viruses to deliver genes to selected target cells. These recombinant viruses are particularly useful for transducing a hematopoietic stem cells, in particular CD34+ cells.

Disclosed herein are populations of microvesicles containing or otherwise associated with viral particles, methods of producing these purified populations, and methods of using these purified populations in a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic and/or prophylactic indications.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving efficacy of viral transduction of cells. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and materials useful for safely and reliably improving the efficiency of methods and materials useful for safely and reliably improving the efficiency of methods for transducing cells, such as human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), with viruses and/or viral vectors. The compositions and methods are useful for therapeutic indications amenable to treatment with hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies.

Vectors and methods are disclosed for immortalizing mammalian cells by co-expression of v-raf and v-myc proteins. A replication-defective viral vector is used for improved safety. The vector comprises an optional marker gene, and is especially useful for producing an immortalized macrophage by a method that involves contacting the vector with a monocyte, proliferatively growing the monocyte, growing the monocytic cell on a solid surface, and then growing the monocytic cell on a porous surface. An immortalized macrophage is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for transducing a target cell, the method comprising the step of contacting a target cell with a retroviral vector and a poloxamer having a molecular weight of 12.8 kDa to about 15 kDa. Further, the invention relates to the use of a poloxamer as defined herein, optionally in combination with a polycationic substance as defined herein, for transducing a target cell with a retroviral vector and a kit comprising a retroviral vector, a poloxamer as defined herein and, optionally, instructions for use.

This document provides methods and materials related to vesicular stomatitis viruses. For example, replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, nucleic acid molecules encoding replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, methods for making replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses, and methods for using replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses to treat cancer or infectious diseases are provided.