The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for making and using engineered killer phagocytic cells for immunotherapy in cancer or infection by expressing a chimeric antigen receptor having an enhanced phagocytic activity, the chimeric receptor is encoded by a recombinant nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods and reagents for the identification of compounds that traverse he cell membrane of an animal cell. In some embodiments, the invention provides additional methods for determining if a candidate compound that traverses an animal cell membrane is able to modulate an intracellular target, as well as reagents and kits for reagents and kits for performing the disclosed methods.

In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods and reagents for the identification of compounds that traverse he cell membrane of an animal cell. In some embodiments, the invention provides additional methods for determining if a candidate compound that traverses an animal cell membrane is able to modulate an intracellular target, as well as reagents and kits for reagents and kits for performing the disclosed methods.

Provided are a 4-ureido-5-carboxyl-imidazole-amide hydrolase and use thereof, particularly use in the treatment of gout.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clustering—an onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clustering—an onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

The present disclosure relates to transcription cassettes comprising nucleic acids encoding RuvBL1 and/or RuvBL2 and the use of said vectors in gene therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that result from expression of polymorphic repeat expansions of the GGGGCC (SEQ ID NO: 5) hexanucleotide-repeat sequence in the first intron of the C9ORF72 gene; pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vectors and including uses and methods to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

The present disclosure relates to transcription cassettes comprising nucleic acids encoding RuvBL1 and/or RuvBL2 and the use of said vectors in gene therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that result from expression of polymorphic repeat expansions of the GGGGCC (SEQ ID NO: 5) hexanucleotide-repeat sequence in the first intron of the C9ORF72 gene; pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vectors and including uses and methods to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

The present invention provides host cells and methods for making mogrol glycosides, including Mogroside V (Mog.V), Mogroside VI (Mog.VI), Iso-Mogroside V (Isomog.V), siamenoside, and glycosylation products that are minor products in Siraitia grosvenorii. The invention provides engineered enzymes and engineered host cells for producing mogrol glycosylation products, such as Mog.V, Mog.VI, and Isomog.V, at high purity and/or yield. The present technology further provides methods of making products containing mogrol glycosides, such as Mog.V, Mog.VI, and Isomog.V, including food products, beverages, oral care products, sweeteners, and flavoring products.