The present invention is directed to ligand like a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), comprising an antigen binding domain specific for one or more antigens selected from the group consisting of CLA, CD142, CD73, CD49c, CD66c, CD104, CD318 and TSPAN8; cell populations expressing such CARs and the use of the cell populations for cancer therapy.

The present disclosure relates to methods of generating antibodies with improved specificity and/or affinity for a target antigen, as well as B-cells and hybridomas expressing the antibodies and compositions comprising antibodies with improved specificity and/or affinity for the target antigen.

Neoglycoconjugates as immunogens and therapeutic/diagnostic tools are described herein. The neoglycoconjugates are produced by conjugating a carbohydrate antigen intermediate to a free amine group of a carrier material (e.g., carrier protein). The intermediate comprises a linker having a first end and a second end, the first end being conjugated to a carbohydrate antigen via a thio ether bond and the second end comprising a functional group reactable with a free amine group. Following coupling, the carbohydrate antigen becomes covalently bound to the carrier material via an amide, a carbamate, a sulfonamide, a urea, or a thiourea bond, thereby producing the neoglycoconjugate. Applications of the neoglycoconjugates as antigens, immunogens, vaccines, and in diagnostics are also described. Specifically, the use of (neo)glycoconjugates as vaccine candidates and other therapeutic tools against cancers, viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, and other diseases characterized by expression of aberrant glycosylation are also described.

Neoglycoconjugates as immunogens and therapeutic/diagnostic tools are described herein. The neoglycoconjugates are produced by conjugating a carbohydrate antigen intermediate to a free amine group of a carrier material (e.g., carrier protein). The intermediate comprises a linker having a first end and a second end, the first end being conjugated to a carbohydrate antigen via a thio ether bond and the second end comprising a functional group reactable with a free amine group. Following coupling, the carbohydrate antigen becomes covalently bound to the carrier material via an amide, a carbamate, a sulfonamide, a urea, or a thiourea bond, thereby producing the neoglycoconjugate. Applications of the neoglycoconjugates as antigens, immunogens, vaccines, and in diagnostics are also described. Specifically, the use of (neo)glycoconjugates as vaccine candidates and other therapeutic tools against cancers, viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, and other diseases characterized by expression of aberrant glycosylation are also described.

The present disclosure provides a novel therapeutic vaccine approach that triggers a therapeutic antitumor response. The inventive approach is to selectively eliminate the carbohydrate sequences from tumor cells without affecting the tumor associated protein epitopes.

Cell-based compositions and methods for targeting and treating human diseases, including cancers and infectious diseases, are provided, wherein exogenous intracellular sarcosine is used for improved delivery of the composition.

The present invention describes a pharmaceutical composition whose active ingredient includes conjugates of membrane vesicles of Neisseria meningitidis and the GM3 ganglioside in a conjugation ratio in excess of proteins, has particular characteristics of size, surface charge and a morphology associated with nano-particulate systems that give it advantageous properties as an immunomodulator, because it induces a convenient and significant reduction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells that has an impact on the response of lymphocytes and on the survival of patients with tumors. The invention further discloses the use of the pharmaceutical composition disclosed in the treatment of cancer, particularly those cancers where the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are high; as well as a method of treatment with said composition in cancer patients and a method to select those who will receive said treatment.

The present invention is directed to ligand like a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), comprising an antigen binding domain specific for one or more antigens selected from the group consisting of CLA, CD142, CD73, CD49c, CD66c, CD104, CD318 and TSPAN8; cell populations expressing such CARs and the use of the cell populations for cancer therapy.

The present description relates to glycoconjugates, glycoconjugate immunogens and glycoconjugate vaccines comprising carbohydrate antigens coupled to immunogenic carrier proteins, or materials used for detection and screening of resulting antibodies. Improved methods of more directly and precisely conjugating carbohydrate antigens to free thiol groups of immunogenic carrier proteins are described, including click-chemistry approaches based on photocatalytic thiol-ene reactions.

The invention features a compositions and methods for inducing an immune response to targeted cells. The compositions induce targeting of a cell by positioning carbohydrate epitopes on the surface of the cell by conjugation of the epitope to a pH-triggered membrane peptide (pHLIP).