The present invention provides for methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response toward cancers and pathogens. It relates to immunoresponsive cells bearing antigen receptors, which can be chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which express introduced ligands for immunomodulatory molecules. In particular embodiments, engineered immunoresponsive cells are antigen-directed and resist immunosuppression and/or have enhances immune-activating properties.

Provided herein are compositions, kits, and methods for manufacturing cells for adoptive cell therapy comprising engineered immune cells that overexpress miR200c and/or EpCAM.

Bi-specific CAR-T cells are disclosed for treating NSCLCs. The disclosed CAR-T cells contain CAR polypeptides that can bind EGFR/MUC1-expressing cells. Therefore, also disclosed is an immune effector cell genetically modified to express an anti-EGFR CAR binding agent and an anti-MUC1 binding agent. Also disclosed are methods of providing an anti-tumor immunity in a subject with a EGFR and MVUC1-expressing cancer that involves adoptive transfer of the disclosed immune effector cells engineered to express the disclosed CARs.

Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions comprising mucin-1 (MUC1), as well as methods for the prevention and/or treatment of cancers characterized by the expression or overexpression of mucin-1 (MUC1).

The invention provides a human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) agonist epitope from the C-terminal subunit of mucin 1 (MUC1-C), which can be used as a peptide, polypeptide (protein), and/or in vaccine or other composition for the prevention or therapy of cancer. The invention further provides a nucleic acid encoding the peptide, protein, or polypeptide, a vector comprising the nucleic acid, a cell comprising the peptide, polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector, and compositions thereof.

This document provides methods and materials relating to isolated polypeptides, polypeptide preparations, vaccine preparations (e.g., anti-cancer vaccine preparations), and methods for vaccinating mammals. For example, polypeptides (e.g., CMV, MUC1, HER2, Mesothelin (MESO), TRAG-3, or CALR polypeptides) having the ability to be processed into different polypeptides such that the processed polypeptides as a group are capable of being presented by different MHC molecules present in a particular mammalian population are provided.

The present invention relates to a multi-specific binding conjugate, a related composition and use. The binding conjugate comprises binding moieties for two or more different receptors, co-receptors, antigens or cellular markers which moieties are coupled by a nanomaterial. The multi-specific binding conjugate can be used to modulate an immune response, treat or prevent a disease or condition (e.g., a cancer, autoimmune disease, pathogen infection or inflammatory disease).

Provided is a method of activating a recombinant immune cell expressing a synthetic receptor comprising an intracellular domain derived from killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 4 (KIR2DL4). Synthetic receptors described herein allow for the activation of recombinant immune cells against an antigen of interest without the deleterious effects of immune cell hyperactivation by existing CARs. The recombinant immune cells can thus be used to in the treatment of cancers or infectious diseases in subjects in need thereof, while limiting the hyperactivation of an immune response associated with traditional recombinant cell-based therapies.

As disclosed herein, high expression of the inhibitory ligands Galectin-3 (LAG-3 ligand), Galectin-9 (Tim-3 ligand), HMGB1 (Tim-3 ligand), CD112 (CD112R ligand) and TNFSF10 (DR5 ligand) in the microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer cells is inhibitory for T-cells. Therefore, disclosed herein is a chimeric receptor comprising an extracellular domain of TIM-3, LAG-3, CD112R or DR5 and transmembrane and intracellular domain of a pro-inflammatory interleukin and/or a co-stimulatory domain. Also disclosed is an immune effector cell engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) polypeptide and the disclosed chimeric receptor. Also disclosed is a method of providing an anti-cancer immunity in a subject with a MUC1-expressing cancer, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the disclosed immune effector cell, thereby providing an anti-tumor immunity in the subject.

The present invention relates to methods for targeted insertion of at least one nucleic acid sequence/s of interest into a target genomic locus of a mammalian cell. More specifically, the methods of the invention are based on using nucleic acid cassettes comprising the nucleic acid sequence/s of interest and at least one recognition signal sequence (RSS), for insertion of the nucleic acid sequence of interest into the target genomic locus that is mediated by RAG-catalyzed recombination. The invention further provides cassettes, vectors and vehicles and cells comprising said cassettes, compositions and uses thereof in immunotherapy.