In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to conjugates comprising GM-CSF and IL-7 and uses related thereto, e.g., enhancing the adaptive immune system. Typically, the GM-CSF and IL-7 are connected by a polymer linker, e.g., polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to nucleic acids encoding these polypeptide conjugates, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding polypeptide conjugates, and protein expression systems comprising these vectors such as infectious viral particles and host cells comprising such nucleic acids.

This disclosure describes genetically engineered natural killer (NK) cells, pharmaceutical compositions that include these NK cells, and methods of making and using these NK cells.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for regulating expression of effector molecules using regulatable transcription factors and/or activation inducible promoters.

The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

Provided is application of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T (CART) cells in preparing drugs for cancer treatment, the CART cells contain an artificially-introduced costimulatory signal transduction domain, and the CART cell does not contain an artificially-introduced first signal transduction domain.

The present disclosure provides materials and methods related to engineered bacteria for use in vaccines. In particular, the present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods for generating vaccine compositions comprising bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus) engineered to express immunogenic polypeptides and immunogenicity-enhancing adjuvant polypeptides to treat and/or prevent infection from a pathogenic organism (e.g., coronavirus).

The present invention provides compounds and compositions for use in the treatment of cancer as part of a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. In particular, the present invention discloses IL-18 binding molecules such as, for example, the IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) for use in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy as a modulator to avoid or minimize side effects.

The present disclosure relates to methods for treating lichen planus (e.g., lichen planopilaris, mucosal lichen planus, cutaneous lichen planus) using Interleukin (IL)-17 antagonists, e.g., secukinumab. Also disclosed herein are IL-17 antagonists, e.g., IL-17 antibodies, such as secukinumab, for treating patients having lichen planus (e.g., lichen planopilaris, mucosal lichen planus, cutaneous lichen planus), as well as medicaments, dosing regimens, pharmaceutical formulations, dosage forms, and kits for use in the disclosed uses and methods.

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and compositions useful for treating cancer in an immunogenic manner so as to elicit local tumor regression, while priming systemic immunity. In one embodiment, there is expansion of tumor-specific immune cells through administration of fibroblasts, either natural or modified in an intratumoral and/or peritumoral manner. In other embodiments, manipulation of a local tumor microenvironment is achieved by injections of immune-modulating fibroblasts to facilitate expansion of immune effector cells, which are subsequently re-stimulated in the periphery by antigenic exposure. In another embodiment, agents are provided that allow for systemic derepression of immunity, while optionally augmenting ability of immune effector cells to expand and kill tumor cells.

Described herein is a method for cancer immunotherapy by administering to a subject an mRNA vaccine designed to express the carbonyl terminal segment of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Also described an improved adjuvant by co-administration of an antisense IL-10 molecule to shift the vaccine immune response to enhanced T-cell responses to hCG. Other embodiments relate to devices and methods for improved delivery of the mRNA vaccine and adjuvant. The intended use involves repeated administration of the vaccine components to subjects over an interval of several months in a repeated boosting strategy.