Fusion constructs are described. A fusion construct contains a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, or SEQ ID NO: 28, fused to a peptide or protein (e.g., an antibody). As compared to the peptide or protein, fusion constructs exhibits improved penetration through the BBB, and are released on the abluminal surface of the BBB, after the post-luminal surface uptake. Fusion constructs could be used in drug discovery, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases.

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 technology relates generally to the field of immunology and relates in part to compositions and methods for activating T cells and other cells resulting in an immune response against a target antigen. The technology also relates to compositions and methods for enhancing and maintaining chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells, while reducing cytotoxic effects of CAR-T cell therapies

Chimeric antigen receptors for use in treating malignant melanoma and other cancers expressing CS1 are described.

Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) viral libraries and methods of making the same. In some embodiments, the CAR comprises an intracellular domain (ICD) with at least one immune activation signaling domain, one co-stimulatory domain, and one or more inhibitory signaling domain or signaling domain from non-T cell lineages. In some embodiments, the signaling domains of the ICD are joined by distinct linkers of 10 amino acids. In some embodiments, the CARs contain a 18-nucleotide barcode in the 3 untranslated region. Also provided herein, are CAR cell libraries and methods of making the same.

Isolated peptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising isolated peptides that bind to retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBp4) and block the Spalt-Like Transcription Factor 4 (SALL4)-RBBp4 interaction are described. Methods of inhibiting binding of SALL4 to RBBp4 and methods of treating a subject having a disorder mediated by a dysregulation of SALL4 are also described.

The present invention relates to a method able to enhance survival and functionality of anti-tumor or anti-viral immune cells through overexpression of Akt molecules in the cells. Akt signaling prevented the expression of immune checkpoints and therefore rescued antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from exhaustion in immunosuppressive microenvironment. This present invention also demostrated that AKT genes have the potential to be utilized in T-cell engineering of adoptive T-cell therapy for treatment of chronic viral infection and malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptors for use in treating malignant melanoma and other cancers expressing CS1 are described.

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of a tumor antigen as described herein by administration of a cell comprising a chimeric antigen receptor that binds a B-Cell antigen and a chimeric antigen receptor which binds a tumor antigen.

Compositions, methods and uses of genetically modified NK cells to elicit immune response against cells infected with microorganisms are presented. In some embodiments, NK cells can be genetically modified with a recombinant nucleic acid that includes a segment encoding an extracellular single-chain variant fragment that specifically binds a CD1-lipid antigen complex and another segment encoding an intracellular activation domain, and a linker between those segments. In other embodiments, the NK cells can be genetically modified with a recombinant nucleic acid that includes a segment encoding an a chain T cell receptor and a chain T cell receptor, and another segment encoding at least a portion of CD3 and at least a portion of CD3. The genetically modified NK cells can be administered to the patient infected with microorganism to trigger immune response specific to the cells infected with the microorganism.