The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods and compositions for treating cancer (e.g., melanoma). It relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically target MDA (e.g., Trp1), and immunoresponsive cells comprising such CARs. The presently disclosed MDA-specific CARs have enhanced immune-activating properties, including anti-tumor activity.

Disclosed is a recombinant polypeptide for facilitating membrane fusion. The recombinant polypeptide having a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity with the ectodomain of p14 fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein and having a functional myristoylation motif, a transmembrane domain from a FAST protein and a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity with the endodomain of p15 FAST protein. A targeting ligand can be added to the recombinant polypeptide for selective fusion. The recombinant polypeptide can be included in the membrane of a liposome, or the like, to facilitate the delivery of bioactive compounds, such as siRNA, or the recombinant polypeptide can be mixed with a lipid carrier and added to cultured cells to induce cell-cell fusion and heterokaryon formation.

Compositions, methods, and uses of recombinant calreticulin protein that is modified to be expressed on the cell surface are presented. Preferably, the recombinant calreticulin protein is presented on the antigen presenting cell surface with a tumor associated protein to increase immunogenicity of the tumor cell in the tumor microenvironment.

The present invention provides multivalent CD20-binding molecules and compositions thereof, such as enriched compositions comprising large proportions of multivalent CD20-binding molecules relative to monovalent CD20-binding molecules. Certain multivalent CD20-binding molecules of the present invention comprise (i) two or more CD20-binding regions and (ii) one or more Shiga toxin effector polypeptide regions derived from an A Subunit of a member of the Shiga toxin family. Certain multivalent CD20-binding molecules of the present invention, and compositions thereof, have uses for selective killing of specific cell types and as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancers, tumors, and immune disorders. Certain multivalent CD20-binding molecules of the present invention, and compositions thereof, have uses for delivering agents into CD20-expressing cells, collecting diagnostic information, and monitoring the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as cancers, tumors, and immune disorders which involve CD20-expressing cells.

The present invention relates to novel peptides, compositions and uses thereof useful in tissue permeabilization, in particular in the context of treatment of cancer prevention and/or treatment or induction of an immune response, in particular via mucosal vaccination or anti-opioid treatment.

The present application provides constructs comprising an antibody moiety that specifically binds to a complex comprising a histone H3 peptide and an MHC class I protein. Also provided are methods of making and using these constructs.

Provided are methods for activating an antigen-presenting cell and eliciting an immune response by inducing an inducible pattern recognition receptor adapter, or adapter fragment, and CD40 activity. Also provided are nucleic acid compositions comprising sequences coding for chimeric proteins that include an inducible CD40 peptide and an inducible pattern recognition receptor adapter or adapter fragment.

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are antibodies, antigen-binding antibody fragments, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) that bind specifically to B7 homolog 6. Also provided herein are methods of using the same and cells comprising the same.

The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions and uses involving immunotherapies and inhibitors of a target protein tyrosine kinase in which the kinase is not IL-2-inducible T cell kinase (ITK) and/or is selected from Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), tec protein tyrosine kinase (TEC), BMX non-receptor tyrosine kinase (Etk), TXK tyrosine kinase (TXK) and/or receptor tyro-sine-protein kinase ErbB4 (ErbB4). The provided methods, compositions and uses include administration of one or more such inhibitor with another agent, such as an immunotherapeutic agent targeting T cells and/or genetically engineered T cells, such as CAR-expressing T cells. Also provided are methods of manufacturing engineered cells, cells, compositions, methods of administration, nucleic acids, articles of manufacture and kits. In some aspects, features of the methods and cells provide for improved activity, efficacy, persistence, expansion and/or proliferation of T cells for adoptive cell therapy or endogenous T cells recruited by immunotherapeutic agents.

BCMA-specific fibronectin type III (FN3) domains, BCMA-targeting chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising the FN3 domains, and engineered BCMA-targeting immune cells expressing the CARs are described. Also described are nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding the FN3 domains and the CARs, recombinant cells containing the vectors, and compositions comprising the engineered immune cells. Methods of making the FN3 domains, CARs, and engineered immune cells, and methods of using the engineered immune cells to treat diseases including cancer are also described.