A genetically engineered live bacterium which is adapted to selectively replicate in and colonize a selected tissue type within the mammal, and concurrently produce within the selected tissue type at least one protease-sensitive cytotoxic molecule which is degradable by proteases within the selected tissue type, and at least one protease inhibitor peptide to inhibit the proteases within the selected tissue type from proteolytically degrading the protease sensitive cytotoxic molecule. The combination results in higher concentrations of the cytotoxic molecule local to the colonization, while permitting protease degradation of the cytotoxic molecule further away from the colonization.

The invention relates to synthetic liver-specific promoters and expression constructs for producing polypeptides and functional nucleic acids in the liver of a subject. The invention further relates to optimized polynucleotide sequences encoding Factor IX proteins, vector comprising the same, and methods of using these compositions to treat a bleeding disorder.

The present disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising rationally designed peptide analogs of the p65-TAD binding region of GILZ to selectively sequester activated p65. Structural and functional analyses suggest that select GILZ analog (GA) bind p65-TAD with optimum affinity, exhibit an estimated half minimal lethal dose comparable to known peptide drugs and suppress Aβ1-42 induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides uses and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions, and uses and methods of using pharmaceutical formulations comprising the pharmaceutical compositions, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The present disclosure discloses use of a fused polypeptide with multifunctional activities. In the fused polypeptide with multifunctional activities, the polypeptide contains the following domains: Pro-Arg-Cys-X-Y-Gly-Glu, where X is Trp or Tyr, and Y is Arg or Cys; and Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ile-Val-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-Arg-Ala-Ala-Val-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp; or a sequence of any amino acid mutated in the foregoing domains. The fused polypeptide can be used for treating various fibrosis diseases and symptoms, including pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, skin fibrosis, renal fibrosis, myocardial fibrosis, and lung tissue lesions.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, an engineered cell (e.g., iPSC, IPS-derived NK, or NK cell) comprising a disrupted B2M gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding one or more of SERPINB9, a fusion of IL15 and IL15Rα, and/or HLA-E. The engineered cell can further comprise a disrupted CIITA gene and an inserted polynucleotide encoding a CAR, wherein the CAR can be an anti-BCMA CAR or an anti-CD30 CAR. The engineered cell may further comprise a disrupted ADAM17 gene, a disrupted FAS gene, a disrupted CISH gene, and/or a disrupted REGNASE-1 gene. Methods for producing the engineered cells are also provided, and therapeutic uses of the engineered cells are also described. Guide RNA sequences targeting described target sequences are also described.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

The present invention relates to binding fusion protein compositions comprising targeting moieties linked to extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN), binding fusion protein-drug conjugate compositions, and XTEN-drug conjugate compositions, isolated nucleic acids encoding the compositions and vectors and host cells containing the same, and methods of using such compositions in treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions.

This invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly fusion proteins that include a serpin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serpin and second polypeptide comprising of at least one the following: an Fc polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from an Fc polypeptide; a cytokine targeting polypeptide or a sequence derived from a cytokine targeting polypeptide; a WAP domain containing polypeptide or a sequence derived from a WAP containing polypeptide; and an albumin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serum albumin polypeptide. This invention also relates to methods of using such molecules in a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic indications, as well as methods of producing such molecules.

The present invention includes mutants of human alpha-1-antitrypsin (mhAAT). Further provided are compositions including the mhAAT and use of same, such as for modulating an immune cell, and treating a condition, such as inflammation.