The present disclosure relates generally to the manufacture of regulatory T cells (Tregs) for use in immunotherapy. In particular, the present disclosure relates to robust approaches for the expansion of alloantigen-reactive Tregs ex vivo. Alloantigen-reactive Tregs produced in this way are suitable for the induction and/or maintenance of immunologic tolerance in recipients of allogeneic transplants.

The invention provides a method for influencing the stability of an antibody producing cell, comprising directly or indirectly influencing the amount of BCL6 and/or Blimp 1 expression product within said antibody producing cell. Stable antibody producing cells and cell lines are also provided, as well as methods for producing antibodies using such cells and/or cell lines.

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.

Disclosed herein is a Chlamydia-activated B cell (CAB) platform. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing a population of B cells, comprising exposing said B cells to Chlamydia spp. under conditions suitable to enhance the population of B cells, such that expansion and differentiation of said B cells takes place, and said B cells are exposed or crosslinked to an antigen. Also disclosed are methods of producing said CABs, and treating a subject in need thereof with said CABs.

In some embodiments, compositions and methods relating to isolated artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) are disclosed, including aAPCs comprising a myeloid cell transduced with one or more viral vectors, such as a MOLM-14 or a EM-3 myeloid cell, wherein the myeloid cell endogenously expresses HLA-AB/C, ICOS-L, and CD58, and wherein the one or more viral vectors comprise a nucleic acid encoding CD86 and a nucleic acid encoding 4-1BBL and/or OX40L and transduce the myeloid cell to express CD86 and 4-1BBL and/or OX40L proteins. In some embodiments, methods of expanding tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with aAPCs and methods of treating cancers using TILs after expansion with aAPCs are also disclosed.

Methods and composition for potentiating germinal centers are disclosed herein. The methods include potentiating germinal centers to enhance antibody production in response to a vaccine, to increase antibody titer in response to a vaccine, and to enhance B cell class switching.

The invention relates to an approach for introducing one or more desired insertions and/or deletions of known sizes into one or more predefined locations in a nucleic acid (e.g., in a cell or organism genome). They developed techniques to do this either in a sequential fashion or by inserting a discrete DNA fragment of defined size into the genome precisely in a predefined location or carrying out a discrete deletion of a defined size at a precise location. The technique is based on the observation that DNA single-stranded breaks are preferentially repaired through the HDR pathway, and this reduces the chances of indels (e.g., produced by NHEJ) in the present invention and thus is more efficient than prior art techniques. The invention also provides sequential insertion and/or deletions using single- or double-stranded DNA cutting.

The present invention provides designed polypeptides that selectively bind to and inhibit Epstein Barr protein BHFR1, and B cell lymphoma family proteins, and are thus useful for treating Epstein Barr-related diseases and cancer.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles, kits, methods and compositions which are suitable for increasing the number of B regulatory (B.sub.reg) cells in a population of B cells; for producing Interleukin-10 (IL-10) or TGF-β. The inventors have shown that biocompatible nanoparticles comprising an antigen may be used for inducing B regulatory (B.sub.reg) cells. This production, either ex vivo, or in vivo, or in vitro, was associated to temporary or lasting remission of disease in spontaneously diabetic NOD mice.

The presently described technology relates to the modulation of specific immune responses to create a protective immunity in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and diseases requiring the transplantation of tissue. In particular, the present technology relates to the supression of immune responses in a targeted fashion, by increasing the functional concentration of the CEACAM1 protein in a target tissue to create a localized protective immunity for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and diseases requiring the transplantation of tissue.