Infectious diseases continue to burden populations around the world. Both naturally occurring and engineered biological threats hold increasing potential to cause disease, disability, and death. The liposomes comprise a targeting molecule that binds a target antigen expressed by a pathogen, wherein the targeting molecule is a C-Type Lectin polypeptide or a fragment thereof comprising a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), wherein the targeting molecule is incorporated into the outer surface of the liposome. Provided herein are targeted nanoparticle compositions and methods for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of an infectious disease using same.

The present disclosure is generally directed to the use of biomaterial scaffolds engineered with SA-FasL for the transplantation of stem cell derived -cells as a treatment for Type I diabetes. Early engraftment post-transplantation and subsequent maturation of these -cells may be limited by the initial inflammatory response, which impacts the ability to sustain normoglycemia at long times. The survival and development of immature hPSC-derived -cells transplanted on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microporous scaffolds into the peritoneal fat, a site being considered for clinical translation, was investigated. The scaffolds were modified with biotin for binding of a streptavidin-FasL (SAFasL) chimeric protein to modulate the local inflammatory microenvironment. The presence of FasL impacted infiltration of monocytes and neutrophils and altered their phenotypic response. Conditioned media generated from scaffolds explanted at day 4 did not impact hPSC-derived -cell survival and maturation in vitro, which was not observed with unmodified scaffolds. Following transplantation, -cell viability and differentiation were improved with SA-FasL modification. A sustained increase in insulin positive cell ratio was observed with SA-FasL modified relative to unmodified scaffolds. These results demonstrate that SA-FasL-modified scaffolds can mitigate initial inflammatory response and enhance -cell engraftment and differentiation.

Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to the treatment of a tumor using immunotherapy. Several embodiments relate to the treatment of a liver tumor, such as hepatocellular carcinoma or a metastasis from another tumor location. Additional embodiments relate to combination therapies that employ Natural Killer (NK) cells engineered to express cytotoxic receptor complexes and additional anti-cancer agents to treat tumors.

The present invention relates to antiviral lectin and uses thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to a complex-type (CX-type) and/or hybrid-type (HY-type) glycan binding lectin for use in treating or preventing influenza virus infection. The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing influenza virus infection by administrating to a subject in need said lectin or a composition comprising the same.

Genetically engineered hematopoietic cells such as hematopoietic stem cells having one or more genetically edited genes of lineage-specific cell-surface proteins and therapeutic uses thereof, either alone or in combination with immune therapy that targets the lineage-specific cell-surface proteins.