We tested the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of a recombinant bispecific immunotoxin that recognizes both EGFRwt and tumor-specific EGFRvIII receptors. A single chain antibody was cloned from a hybridoma and fused to toxin, carrying a C-terminal peptide which increases retention within cells. The binding affinity and specificity of the recombinant bispecific immunotoxin for the EGFRwt and the EGFRvIII proteins was measured. In vitro cytotoxicity was measured. In vivo activity of the recombinant bispecific immunotoxin was evaluated in subcutaneous models and compared to that of an established monospecific immunotoxin. In our preclinical studies, the bispecific recombinant immunotoxin, exhibited significant potential for treating brain tumors.

The present disclosure provides variant light-responsive polypeptides, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the light-responsive polypeptides. The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for controlling the activity of a cell expressing a variant light-responsive polypeptide of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides opsins, including variant opsins with increased activity and/or increased trafficking to the plasma membrane. The opsins are useful in therapeutic and screening applications, which are also provided.

The present invention provides an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising or consisting of a modified P450 reductase which lacks N-terminal amino acids relative to the corresponding wild type P450 reductase and comprises an epitope tag comprising the sequence HDEL or KDEL. The modified P450 reductase, when co-expressed with a cytochrome P450, increases the activity and/or expression of the cytochrome P450 compared to the activity and/or expression of the cytochrome P450 when co-expressed with the wild type P450 reductase.

The present invention provides engineered immune cells comprising an anti-CD2 protein expression blocker (PEBL) and an anti-CD2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In some embodiments, such engineered immune cells lack surface expression CD2. Also, provided herein are methods of using such cells in cancer therapies.

The present invention provides compositions comprising an anti-CD7 chimeric activating receptor (CAR) and an anti-CD7 protein expression blocker, and methods of using such compositions in cancer therapy.

The invention is directed to compositions, e.g., cell-based and multiplexed platforms, to screen for small molecule drugs that inhibit enzymes such as proteases, e.g., viral proteases, e.g., HIV proteases; and methods for making and using these compositions. The invention provides compositions and methods for identifying compositions, e.g., drug molecules, that can inhibit proteases, e.g., viral proteases such as HIV proteases. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides cell-based platforms or assays to screen for compositions, e.g., small molecules or drugs, that inhibit or modify the activity of enzymes such as calcium-dependent protein convertases involved in HIV envelope protein processing, including cleavage of the HIV gp160 envelope precursor, resulting in gp120 and gp41 envelope products. In one embodiment, the invention provides a cell-based or multiplexed platform for monitoring the activity of enzymes, e.g., proteases such as viral proteases.

Provided herein are NK-92 cells expressing at least one CAR and at least one Fc receptor. Also provided are methods of treatment of a patient having or suspected of having a disease that is treatable with NK-92 cells, such as cancer, comprising administering to the patient NK-92-Fc-CAR.

The present invention provides compositions comprising an anti-CD7 chimeric activating receptor (CAR) and an anti-CD7 protein expression blocker, and methods of using such compositions in cancer therapy.

The present invention provides an intraceptor that interacts with and decreases activity of with VEGF and/or a VEGFR for the treatment of angiogenesis-related conditions. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use thereof for the treatment and prevention of an angiogenesis-related condition using said intraceptors. The invention further provides for nucleic acids encoding said intraceptors.