A modified immune cell that has attenuated expression and/or activity of YTH N6-Methyladenosine RNA Binding Protein 2 (YTHDF2), and enhanced anti-tumor activity. A composition for stimulating T cell-mediated immune response to a cancer cell and/or a tumor antigen, including an agent capable of attenuating the expression and/or activity of YTHDF2, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A composition for treating cancer, comprising an agent capable of attenuating the expression and/or activity of YTHDF2. A method for activating an immune cell. A method for generating an immune cell. A method for treating a disease, disorder or condition associated with an expression of a tumor antigen in a subject in need thereof. A method for stimulating a T cell-mediated immune response to a cancer cell and/or a tumor antigen in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for assessing biological aging. For example, methods and materials that can be used to determine if a mammal (e.g., a human) has an advanced biological age, is at risk of developing one or more adverse outcomes (e.g., adverse outcomes associated with medical intervention at an advanced biological age) following a medical intervention, and/or is likely to be responsive to one or more senotherapeutic agents are provided herein. In some cases, methods and materials for using one or more senotherapeutic agents to improve one or more outcomes for a mammal following a medical intervention (e.g., surgery) are also provided.

The present disclosure provides zinc finger fusion proteins that inhibit expression of the prion gene in the nervous system, and methods of using the proteins to treat prion disease.

This invention relates to Natural Killer (NK) cell populations, to methods of producing the same and therapeutic applications thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to the expansion of NK cells by increasing the expression of specific transcription factors associated with NK cell production.

The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for regulating fertilization and for use as a contraceptive based on the discovery herein of an oocyte specific protein, SAS1R (Sperm Acrosomal SLLP1 Receptor), which is a sperm protein receptor. Six SAS1R variants, including the full length SAS1R, were identified. mSLLP1 and SAS1R co-localized to oocytes and to acrosomes of acrosome-reacted sperm. Interactions between mSLLP1 and SAS1R were demonstrated by far-western analysis, in a yeast two-hybrid system under stringent selection conditions, and by immunoprecipitation of SAS1R by anti-mSLLP1 as well as the converse. Purified recombinant SAS1R was found to have protease activity, to inhibit fertilization in-vitro, and to induce an immune response in females. Together, the results suggest SAS1R is a proteolytically active, oocyte and early embryo specific oolemmal metalloprotease receptor for the sperm intra-acrosomal ligand SLLP1 and is a target for regulating fertilization and as a contraceptive.

A method of treating a subject with dry-form age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is disclosed. The method comprises administering into the subretina of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising human RPE cells, wherein at least 95% of the cells thereof co-express premelanosome protein (PMEL17) and cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), and wherein the trans-epithelial electrical resistance of the cells is greater than 100 ohms to the subject, thereby treating the subject.

The disclosure features methods of correcting a mutation in the human beta-globin (HBB) gene in a cell or population of cells. The disclosure also features methods of increasing repair of a DNA double stranded break (DSB) in an HBB gene by the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway. The disclosure also features compositions for use in the methods.

The present disclosure relates to methods for increasing telomere length in one or more human cells and/or increasing genome stability of one or more human cells, for example by contacting one or more human cells with an agent that increases expression of Zscan4 in the one or more human cells. Methods of treating a subject in need of telomere lengthening, treating a disease or condition associated with a genomic and/or chromosome abnormality, of rejuvenating one or more human cells, of rejuvenating tissues or organs, and of rejuvenating a subject in need thereof, for example by contacting one or more human cells in the subject with an agent that increases expression of Zscan4, or by administering to a subject in need thereof, an agent that increases expression of Zscan4 are also provided.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.