The present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods suitable for specifically eliminating target cells (e.g., cancer cells) without affecting non-target cells (e.g., non-cancer cells). For example, CR-ISPR system and the compositions of the present disclosure can be employed to specifically introduce a suicidal gene into a cancer cell in the loci of a cancer-specific target sequence, which as a result of chromosomal re-arrangement or translocation in a cancer cell presents a cancer specific sequence for a guide RNA and CAS to be recognized and such sequence is absent in a non-cancer cell. Consequently, the specific introduction of the composition(s) to cancer-specific site(s) and integration of suicide gene in the target genome, which is inapplicable to normal cells for lack of the site(s), leads to selective elimination of cancer cells but not non-cancer cells, and therefore render novel therapeutic methods and compositions for cancer treatment.

Disclosed herein are peptides and structurally-stabilized peptides that selectively bind to HDMX, or both HDMX and HDM2 as well as compositions comprising the same. Also provided are methods for using such peptides in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer (e.g., HDMX-expressing and/or -dependent cancers).

The present invention relates to interleukin-2 fusion proteins. More specifically, the invention provides, in part, fusion proteins that include a interleukin-2 protein moiety joined to a Bcl-2 family member protein moiety.

The invention pertains to a method to identify an effective combination of a transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase and a membrane-bound protein, wherein the combination is effective when the transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase is capable of decreasing the surface level of the membrane-bound protein upon forced dimerization, preferably by ubiquitination of the membrane-bound protein. The method of the invention comprises a step of exposing a cell to a heterobifunctional molecule, wherein the heterobifunctional molecule comprises a first binding domain capable of specific binding to an extracellular portion of the transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase, and a second binding domain capable of specific binding to an extracellular portion of the membrane-bound protein. The method further comprises a step of determining the decrease in surface level of the membrane-bound protein. The invention additionally pertains to a heterobifunctional molecule targeting an effective combination of a transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase and a membrane-bound protein.

The present invention relates to interleukin-4 receptor-binding fusion proteins. More specifically, the invention provides, in part, fusion proteins that include an interleukin-4 or interleukin-13 protein moiety joined to an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member protein moiety.

Provided herein are cancer stem cell targeted cancer vaccines and methods for treating and vaccinating against cancer. Also contained herein are regimens by which cancer stem cell targeted cancer vaccines are administered, such regimens comprising peptides, compositions, immunomodulatory agents, and emulsifiers. Also provided are the patient populations to which the regimens are to be administered, and the dosages, schedules, route of administration for the regimens.

Novel CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11 polypeptides, proteins, and nucleic acid molecules are disclosed. In addition to isolated CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11 proteins, the invention further provides CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11 antibodies. The invention also provides CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11 nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced and non-human transgenic animals in which a CARD-9, CARD-10, or CARD-11 gene has been introduced or disrupted. Diagnostic, screening and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules comprising viral genes or derivatives thereof for use in the production of retroviral packaging vectors, and retroviral packaging and producer cell lines. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid molecules comprise env and gag-pol genes wherein the coding sequences of the env and gag-pol genes are in opposing orientations.

Disclosed are methods for conditionally immortalizing stem cells, including adult and embryonic stem cells, the cells produced by such methods, therapeutic and laboratory or research methods of using such cells, and methods to identify compounds related to cell differentiation and development or to treat diseases, using such cells. A mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cells and methods related to such mouse model are also described.

The present invention provides biologically active crosslinked polypeptides with improved properties relative to their corresponding precursor polypeptides, having good cell penetration properties and reduced binding to human proteins. The invention additionally provides methods of identifying and making such improved polypeptides.