The invention relates generally to genetically modified non-human animals expressing human polypeptides and their methods of use,

The ubiquitin ligase, RNF5, regulates the gut microbiota composition and influences the immune checkpoint response to tumors. RNF5 deficient animals exhibit significant inhibition of tumor development as well as an altered gut microbiota composition. Methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject one or more selected bacterial species and/or one or more prebiotics that promote the growth of one or more selected bacterial species are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject one or more selected bacterial species and/or one or more prebiotics that promote the growth of one or more selected bacterial species in combination with one or more anti-cancer agents.

Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulation may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g., glioblastoma.

The present invention provides genetically modified non-human animals which are deficient in at least one or more types of CD3 genes selected from the group consisting of endogenous CD3ε, CD3δ, and CD3γ in its genome and functionally express at least one or more types of human CD3 genes selected from the group consisting of human CD3ε, CD3δ, and CD3γ. In the genetically modified non-human animals of the present invention, mature T cell differentiation and production can take place, and immunocompetent cells including T cells can exert their functions. The genetically modified non-human animals of the present invention enable efficient evaluation and screening in the development of therapeutic agents and therapeutic methods that use human CD3-mediated targeted drugs.

An objective of the present invention is to provide non-human animal models of cancer pathology, which mimic the hierarchical organization, cancer progression process, or biological property of human cancer tissues, and uses thereof. To achieve the objective described above, first, the present inventors transplanted cells of NOG-established cancer lines into NOG mice and morphologically observed the resulting tissue organization. As a result, the non-human animal models were demonstrated to exhibit pathologies (the hierarchical organization, cancer progression process, or biological properties of the cancer cells) similar to that of human cancer. Specifically, the present inventors succeeded in preparing non-human animal models exhibiting pathologies more similar to a human cancer, and cell culture systems using NOG-established cancer cell lines where the in vitro cell morphology is more similar to that of human cancer.

Compositions and methods of making isolated binding molecules (e.g. an antibodies) or antigen-binding fragment thereof useful as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with cells expressing claudin18.2, including tumor-related diseases such as gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head-neck cancer, and cancer of the gallbladder are described. Also, described are pharmaceutical formulations comprising the described compositions for the treatment of diseases either as single agent (e.g., naked antibodies) or as adjuvant therapy with other antigen-binding anticancer agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies), and/or by combination therapies where the anti-claudin18.2 antibodies are administered before, after, or concurrently with chemotherapy.

Implantable scaffolds that treat solid tumors and escape variants and that provide effective vaccinations against cancer recurrence are described. The scaffolds include genetically-reprogrammed lymphocytes and a lymphocyte-activating moiety.

The present invention includes compositions and methods for identification of membrane targets for enhancement of T cell activity against a disease, disorder or condition, and/or enhancing T cell anti-tumor activity in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the disease is cancer. In further embodiments, the cancer is glioblastoma (GBM) or breast cancer.

Methods of treating castration-resistant and castration-sensitive prostate cancer using a compound having the following structure (I):

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or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or zwitterionic form thereof, are provided.

Methods of treating viral infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 and other diseases causing organ damage in a subject are provided.

Treatments include administration of a targeted retrovector to the subject. Among the effects of these treatments is the lessening or prevention of complications of the disease, particularly those arising from pathogenic immune responses.