The present invention relates to the production of avian induced pluripotent stem cells from non-pluripotent somatic cells, including embryonic fibroblasts and adult somatic cells. In this method, avian (including quail or chicken) somatic cells are reprogrammed into a state closely resembling embryonic stem cells including the expression of key stem cell markers alkaline phosphatase, etc. by transfecting/transducing the non-stem cells with genes (preferably using a non-integrating vector as otherwise described herein or alternatively an integrating vector, such a lentiviral vector, retroviral vector or inducible lentiviral vector, among others) which express at least nanog, Lin28 and cMyc. In preferred aspects of the invention, the transfected/transduced vectors express nanog, Lig28, cMyc, Oct 4 (POU5F1 or PouV), SOX2 and KLF4. The induced stem cells which are produced contribute to all 3 germ layers, the trophectoderm and in certain aspects, the gonad in chimeric offspring.

Disclosed are findings that: (a) induced pluripotent stem cells derived from aged donors (A-iPSC) show increased genomic instability, a defect in apoptosis, a defect in glucose metabolism, and a blunted DNA damage response are compared to those derived from young donors (Y-iPSC); and (b) inhibition of excessive glutathione-mediated H.sub.2O.sub.2 scavenging activity, found to be associated with A-iPSC and in turn inhibiting DNA damage response and apoptosis, substantially rescues these defects and reduces the oncogenic potential of A-iPSC. Supplementation of pluripotency factor ZSCAN10 (shown to be poorly activated in A-iPSC and to act upstream of glutathione involvement), e.g., by expression as an adjunct to the four Yamanaka iPSC reprogramming factors, led to substantial recovery of genomic stability, DNA damage response, and apoptosis in A-iPSC through enhancing GLUT3 and normalizing homeostasis of glutathione/H.sub.2O.sub.2; GLUT3 (a pluripotent stem cell-specific glucose transporter acting upstream of glutathione and also poorly activated in A-iPSC) has similar effects, indicating that inhibition of glutathione/H.sub.2O.sub.2 notably through delivery of ZSCAN 10 and/or GLUT3 and/or an exosome subunit will be clinically useful, resulting in A-iPSC of improved properties and reduced oncogenic potential.

Universal human induced pluripotent stem cells (universal hiPSCs) and a method of forming the same are provided in the disclosure, including the following steps: providing a first cell group including human stem cells; providing a second cell group including human mononuclear cells; in some embodiments, the second cell group further includes human stem cells, in which the human stem cells of the second cell group are allogenic cells from the first cell group; mixing the first cell group and the second cell group to form cell mixture; maintaining the cell mixture at a temperature below 30° C. for at least one day; reprogramming the human stem cells of the cell mixture to obtain universal hiPSCs. The universal hiPSCs includes human leukocyte antigen-1 (HLA class I) gene and human leukocyte antigen-2 (HLA class II) gene, but no HLA class I and HLA class II expressions.

Methods for reprogramming primate somatic cells to pluripotency using an episomal vector that does not encode an infectious virus are disclosed. Pluripotent cells produced in the methods are also disclosed.

A venom-based peptide and an application thereof, which relate to the technical field of biomolecules. The amino acid sequence of the peptide is represented by formula 1: X1-X2-X3-X4-X5-X6-X7-X8-X9-X10-X11-X12-X13-X14-X15-X16-X17-X18; X1, X5, X6, X9 and X11 are each selected from any one among A, V, L, I, M, F, W and P; X2, X3, X10, X15, X17 and X18 are each selected from any one among G, C, S, T, Y, N and Q; X7 is selected from D or E; X4, X8 and X16 are each selected from any one among K, R and H; and X12, X13 and X14 are each selected from any one among K, R, H, D and E. The peptide has the function of promoting self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells.

A method of producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, comprising the step of introducing at least one kind of non-viral expression vector incorporating at least one gene that encodes a reprogramming factor into a somatic cell. In some embodiments, the gene that encodes a reprogramming factor is one or more kind of genes selected from the group consisting of an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Sox family gene, a Myc family gene, a Lin family gene, and the Nanog gene.

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for reprogramming cells to a pluripotent state. In particular, it relates to an integration- and feeder cell-free method for reprogramming primary human fibroblast cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for reprogramming cells to a pluripotent state. In particular, it relates to an integration- and feeder cell-free method for reprogramming primary human fibroblast cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Method for expanding stemness and differentiation potential of pluripotent cells. The invention is based on the finding that increasing micro RNA-203 levels in induced pluripotent stem (iPSCs) or embryonic stem (ESCs) cells improves the quality cell fate potential and ability of these cells to differentiate into multiple cell lineages and to reach further maturation properties without interfering with their self-renewal properties. This effect is mediated through the mi R-203-dependent control of de novo DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, which in turn regulate the methylation landscape of pluripotent cells. The effect can be achieved by overexpression of micro RNA-203 or by adding micro RNA-203 or analogues thereof to the cell culture medium and can be observed using a variety of cellular and in vivo models. The generated cells are naïve pluripotent cells with an improved capacity to differentiate, that can be used to obtain more efficiently differentiated and mature cells proficient for regenerative medicine strategies.

The invention provides compositions and methods for manufacturing pluripotent cells. In particular, the invention provides improved culture platforms for manufacturing pluripotent cells with ground state pluripotency.