The invention provides improved compositions for adoptive T cell therapies for B cell related conditions.

Described herein are constructs used for liver-specific expression of a transgene.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods, reporter gene constructs, and kits for using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as an imaging reporter to image a variety of cells and tissues.

The disclosure relates to a T-DNA binary vector based on bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV) that reduces plant cell death and increases transgene expression. In one aspect, the T-DNA region comprise a replicon cassette comprising a rep gene or a repA gene with a mutated translation initiation region. The disclosure also relates to replicating geminiviral expression system based on BeYDV comprising with an expression cassette a sequence encoding Rep and a sequence encoding the promoter of ubiquitin-3 from potato with ubiquitin fusion; an expression cassette comprising a sequence encoding RepA and a sequence encoding the promoter of ubiquitin-3 from potato with ubiquitin fusion; and an expression cassette comprising a promoter region, a 5′ UTR, a sequence encoding a recombinant protein, and a 3′ UTR. These expression cassettes are on different T-DNA cloning vectors or on one T-DNA cloning vector.

Arenavirus vectors encoding hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines are described. Methods of inducing an immune response against HBV or treating an HBV-induced disease, particularly in individuals having chronic HBV infection, using the disclosed arenavirus vectors are also described.

The present application discloses methods for synthetic production and cell-free synthesis of DNA vectors, particularly closed-ended linear DNA vectors having one or more gaps (e.g., nicked ceDNA vectors, “neDNA”) and adenoassociated-virus (AAV) vector which is single strand DNA having linear and continuous structure, for delivery and expression of a transgene in the host cell. The present invention also relates to an in vitro process for production of closed-ended DNA vectors, corresponding DNA vector products produced by the methods and uses thereof, and oligonucleotides and kits useful in the process of the present invention.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer in a subject. This involves administering an oncolytic virus containing a heterologous DNA sequence encoding one or more immunomodulatory and/or immunostimulatory polypeptide(s) of interest to the subject under conditions effective to enhance an anti-tumor immune response in the subject, and to treat cancer. It also relates to a method of enhancing the delivery to and distribution within a tumor mass of therapeutic viruses.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified non-human animals that express a human or chimeric (e.g., humanized) IL6R and/or IL6, and methods of use thereof.

Novel intron fragments are provided. The intron fragments can increase gene expression to levels equal to or higher than those achieved by the full-length intron while maintaining their ability to increase gene expression even when combined with various types of promoters and splicing donors. Particularly, the intron fragments enable loading of larger transgenes when used in genetic information delivery systems whose size is limited, for example, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) and rhabdoviruses. Therefore, the use of the intron fragments is expected to extend the range of therapeutic genes.

The present invention provides an effective vaccine for Marek's disease, which may be prepared using a recombinant Marek's Disease Virus (MDV), strain CVI988, having been transformed with a foreign DNA construct that includes a long terminal repeat sequence of a reticuloendotheliosis virus. This safe viral agent elicits a highly protective immune response in a chicken against virulent MDV challenge without causing a significant degree of pathogenicity. Suitable formulations of the vaccine for use in chickens include an effective immunization dosage of this novel viral agent, along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.