A construct comprising a promoter specific for non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells (NPCECs) is provided. In particular, the construct comprises a BEST2 minimal promoter that confers NPCEC-specific expression. The BEST2 minimal promoter may be operably linked to an expressible sequence such as a gene encoding a polypeptide of interest, a regulatory RNA sequence, a reporter gene, and the like. Such constructs may be provided in an expression vector, for example, with the BEST2 minimal promoter operably linked to an expressible sequence or in a host cell genetically modified with such an expression vector.

The present disclosure provides improved multiplex genome editing compositions and methods. The disclosure further provides genome edited cells for the prevention, treatment, or amelioration of at least one symptom of a hemoglobinopathy, a cancer, an infectious disease, an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease, or an immunodeficiency.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid regulatory elements that are able to enhance endothelial cell-specific expression of genes, methods employing these regulatory elements and uses of these elements. Expression cassettes and vectors containing these nucleic acid regulatory elements are also disclosed. The present invention is particularly useful for applications using gene therapy, more particularly endothelial cell-directed gene therapy, and for vaccination purposes.

Described herein are methods of generating induced muscle progenitor cells (iMPCs) and uses thereof. Embodiments further provide for methods of promoting muscle regeneration and/or repair and methods of treating a muscle disease or disorder.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for targeting cancer-specific DNA sequences, such as copy number amplifications and other types of cancer-specific sequence variations, such as cancer-specific polymorphisms, insertions, or deletions. The present invention provides hereto sequence-specific DNA targeting agents targeting a sequence within the amplified DNA region or a sequence otherwise specific for a cancer cell compared to a non-cancer cell. The invention further relates to methods for treating cancer, comprising administering such sequence-specific DNA targeting agents. The invention further relates to methods for preparing sequence-specific DNA targeting agent, as well as screening methods using the DNA targeting agents.

Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulation may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g., glioblastoma.

Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and kits suitable for use in imaging of in situ gene expression. There are provided, in some embodiments, viral vector compositions. Disclosed herein includes a single viral vector comprising one or more gas vesicle assembly (GVA) gene(s) encoding one or more GVA protein(s), and one or more gas vesicle structural (GVS) gene(s) encoding one or more GVS protein(s). The one or more GVA protein(s) and the one or more GVS protein(s) can be capable of forming gas vesicles (GVs) upon expression in a cell.

Methods are provided for treating a subject with a pain condition. Aspects of the methods include administering a gene therapy to the subject and/or a therapeutically effective amount of a composition that includes a gene therapy vector. Aspects of the vectors may include a nucleic acid sequence encoding a K-Cl cotransporter 2 (KCC2) polypeptide, including e.g., full-length and modified versions thereof. Methods are also provided for treating a subject by editing an endogenous KCC2 locus of the subject to encode a modified KCC2 polypeptide. Methods of detecting the presence of a pain condition are also provided, including where a pain condition detected in such methods is treated according to the methods described herein. Also provided are compositions, such as compositions including a gene therapy vector, such as a lentiviral vector, that includes a viral backbone nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a full-length human KCC2 polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a modified KCC2 polypeptide.

Provided is a viral particle comprising a genomic RNA suitable for delivering a polynucleotide sequence of interest (SOI) into a cell and/or a subject. The genomic RNA comprises, from 5′ to 3′: (a) the SOI replacing the upstream R, (b) a U5, (c) a primer binding site (PBS), (d) an encapsidation signal (Psi), (e) polypurine tract(s) (PPT), and (f) a U3. The SOI preferably takes the form of single-stranded DNA or a DNA-RNA hybrid after initiation of reverse transcription. Additionally provided are polynucleotides, vectors, cells, components, compositions, kits, methods and uses of the viral particle.

Provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, for remotely-controlled and non-invasive manipulation of intracellular nucleic acid expression, genetic processes, function and activity in live cells such as a T cell, a primary T cell, a B cell, a monocyte, a macrophage, a dendritic cell or a natural killercell in vivo, for example, including activating, adding functions or changing or adding specificities for an immune cell, for monitoring physiologic processes, for the correction of pathological processes and for the control of therapeutic outcomes. Provided are tamoxifen-gated photoactivatable split-Cre recombinase optogenetic systems, called TamPA-Cre, that feature high spatiotemporal control to control or alter cell activities in vivo, for example, to limit the activity of a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-expressing cell such as an immune cell and its activity at a tumor site for immunotherapy applications.