Provided herein are methods and compositions useful for treating PDL1 and/or PDL2 positive cancers through adoptive cell transfer of T cells genetically engineered to express a PD1-specific chimeric antigen receptor. Co-stimulatory domains such as Dap 10 may be included to enhance efficacy.

The invention is directed to a bispecific chimeric antigen receptor, comprising: (a) at least two antigen-specific targeting regions; (b) an extracellular spacer domain; (c) a transmembrane domain; (d) at least one co-stimulatory domain; and (e) an intracellular signaling domain, wherein each antigen-specific targeting region comprises an antigen-specific single chain Fv (scFv) fragment, and binds a different antigen, and wherein the bispecific chimeric antigen receptor is co-expressed with a therapeutic control. The invention also provides methods and uses of the bispecific chimeric antigen receptors.

As described herein, a hybrid voltage sensor genetically-encoded voltage indicator (GEVI) for mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum includes a transmembrane domain, and a fluorescent protein, wherein a terminus of the transmembrane domain and a terminus of the fluorescent protein are covalently linked directly or by a linker comprising 1 to 20 amino acids, and wherein the transmembrane domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or a peptide with greater than 85%, 90%, 95% or 98% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Also described are expression vectors, expression cassettes, and organelle membranes, as well as methods of determining the voltage across an organelle using the GEVIs.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides for methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response toward cancers and pathogens. It relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically target human mesothelin, and immunoresponsive cells comprising such CARs. The presently disclosed mesothelin-targeted CARs have enhanced immune-activating properties, including anti-tumor activity.

The present invention generally embraces the treatment of diseases by targeting cells expressing an antigen on the cell surface. In particular the invention relates to recombinant antigen receptors and uses thereof. T cells engineered to express such antigen receptors are useful in the treatment of diseases characterized by expression of one or more antigens bound by the antigen receptors.

The present invention relates to a cell comprising a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a constitutively active or inducible Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) molecule.

Disclosed are compositions comprising an isolated chimeric interleukin 6 receptor alpha (IL-6Rα) binding protein or cells expressing an isolated chimeric IL-6Rα binding protein. The isolated IL-6Rα chimeric binding protein and cells expressing the protein may be used in methods of treating cancer and reducing the risk of cytokine release syndrome.

The present invention discloses a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for BDCA2, a population of engineered cells expressing said CAR and a pharmaceutical composition thereof. Said engineered cells are for treatment of cancer in a subject, wherein the cancerous cells of said cancer express BDCA2 such as Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN).

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for enhancing T cell response in vivo. For example, a method of enhancing T cell response in a subject or treating a subject having cancer, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition comprising modified cells to the subject having a form of cancer associated with or expressing an antigen, for example, a solid tumor antigen; and administering (1) a nucleic acid encoding the antigen, (2) additional modified cells comprising the nucleic acid or the antigen, or (3) microorganisms, for example cold viruses, comprising the nucleic acid or the antigen. In embodiments, the modified cells comprise mixed cells targeting a solid tumor antigen and a white blood cell (WBC) antigen. In embodiments, the modified cells comprise a dominant negative form of an immune checkpoint molecule (e.g., PD-1). In embodiments, the modified cells comprise an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic agent, such as IL-12 and IFNγ.

Embodiments relate to a modified cell comprising an antigen binding molecule, and the expression and/or function of one or more genes in the modified cell has been enhanced or reduced or eliminated. The one or more genes include CXCR3, SLC1A3, YAP, TIGIT, S1P1, and IL-35. In embodiments, the cell is a T cell, a dendritic cell, a NK cell, or a macrophage cell. In embodiments, the antigen binding molecule comprises a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and/or the second antigen binding molecule is a T Cell Receptor (TCR).