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 application relates to methods of producing exosomes. The application also provides a method for preparing a protein composition comprising culturing an exosome-producing cell expressing a Nef-fusion protein comprising a Nef-derived peptide fused to a protein of interest; isolating exosomes from the exosome-producing cell culture; and purifying the protein of interest from the isolated exosomes. The application further discloses compositions that comprise exosomes containing the Nef-fusion protein, as well as methods of using the Nef-fusion protein and exosomes containing the Nef-fusion protein.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting rejection of transplanted cells including a high mobility group box 1 A domain (HMGB1A) as an active ingredient. The use of the pharmaceutical composition can minimize immunological rejection, which may occur upon cell transplantation, and increase the success rate of cell transplantation.

An improved method of deprotection in solid phase peptide synthesis is disclosed. In particular the deprotecting composition is added in high concentration and small volume to the mixture of the coupling solution, the growing peptide chain, and any excess activated acid from the preceding coupling cycle, and without any draining step between the coupling step of the previous cycle and the addition of the deprotection composition for the successive cycle. Thereafter, the ambient pressure in the vessel is reduced with a vacuum pull to remove the deprotecting composition without any draining step and without otherwise adversely affecting the remaining materials in the vessel or causing problems in subsequent steps in the SPPS cycle.

Protein kinase inhibitors and more specifically inhibitors of the protein kinase c-Jun amino terminal kinase are herein described. Additionally, JNK inhibitor sequences, chimeric peptides, nucleic acids encoding same as well as pharmaceutical compositions for treating pathophysiologies associated with JNK signaling are herein provided.

Provided herein are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier and a population episensus antigen determined using the EpiGraph approach. Also provided are HIV-1 vaccines comprising a carrier, a population episensus antigen, and a tailored antigen. Also provided are methods of designing and producing an HIV-1 vaccine for a subject comprising designing vaccine antigens to optimally cover the diversity within a geographic area using an antigen amino acid sequence generated using the EpiGraph approach, and producing said designed vaccine antigen. Also provided are methods of inducing an effector memory T cell response comprising designing the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences, producing a vaccine comprising the one or more EpiGraph amino acid sequences and a vector, and administering the vaccine to a subject. Further provided are methods of treating HIV-1 in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the described HIV-1 vaccines to the subject in need thereof.

Provided herein are methods for preventing or treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a subject, the methods including: administering an agent which inhibits formation of a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-FK506 Binding Protein 51 (FKBP51) complex (GR-FKBP51 complex), or which disrupts already formed GR-FKBP51 complex, to the subject; thereby reducing a level of GR-FKBP51 complex in the subject and preventing or treating the PTSD. Also provided are methods for diagnosing a subject as having, or being at risk of developing, a PTSD, the methods including steps of: measuring a level of a GR-FKBP51 complex in the subject; comparing the measured level to a reference level of a non-PTSD condition; and identifying the subject as having, or being at risk of developing, PTSD where the measured level is elevated relative to the reference level. Agents, compositions, and/or kits for the diagnosis and/or treatment of PTSD are also described.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating T cell exhaustion in a subject, by administering a PTD-MYC fusion protein (e.g., an HIV TAT-MYC fusion protein) or immune cells treated with a PTD-MYC fusion protein. Kits for use in practicing the methods are also provided herein.

The present invention relates to a cell membrane penetrating peptide and an intracellular delivery carrier including the same. The intracellular delivery carrier of the present invention has an advantage of efficiently transferring substances into cells even at a low concentration thereof compared with the existing cell membrane penetrating peptide derived from the virus.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting rejection of transplanted cells including a high mobility group box 1 A domain (HMGB1A) as an active ingredient. The use of the pharmaceutical composition can minimize immunological rejection, which may occur upon cell transplantation, and increase the success rate of cell transplantation.