The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of a tumor antigen as described herein. The invention also relates to nucleic acids comprising a truncated PGK promoter operably linked to a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to a tumor antigen as described herein, vectors encoding the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the CARs of the present invention. The invention also includes methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises an antigen binding domain that binds to a tumor antigen as described herein.

The present application provides constructs comprising an antibody moiety specifically recognizing Glypican 3 (GPC3), such as a cell surface-bound GPC3. Also provided are methods of making and using these constructs.

The invention provides novel light-switchable CAR T-cells that can be remotely controlled through NIR-light-converting upconvension nanoparticles, and related CAR T constructs, nanoparticles, compositions and methods thereof for optogenetic therapy.

Methods and compositions are provided related to therapeutic receptors, including chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), capable of specifically binding TYRP-1. The disclosed compositions include, for example, cells (e.g., immune cells) expressing TYRP-1 specific CARs, nucleic acids encoding TYRP-1 specific CARs, and TYRP-1 specific CAR polypeptides. Certain aspects relate to methods of treating cancer, including melanoma, using compositions comprising TYRP-1 specific CARs, for example cells expressing TYRP-1 specific CARs. In some embodiments, provided herein are chimeric polypeptides comprising a TYRP-1 binding domain, a hinge region, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular signaling domain.

Methods for manufacturing genetically engineered T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), such as a CAR that binds human CD19, BCMA, or CD70, and having multiple additional gene edits, for example, a disrupted Regnase-1 gene, a disrupted TGFBRII gene, a disrupted TRAC gene, a disrupted β2M gene, or a combination thereof, using CRISPR/Cas gene editing systems.

The present disclosure provides RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas effector proteins, nucleic acids encoding same, and compositions comprising same. The present disclosure provides ribonucleoprotein complexes comprising: an RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas effector protein of the present disclosure; and a guide RNA. The present disclosure provides methods of modifying a target nucleic acid, using an RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas effector protein of the present disclosure and a guide RNA. The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid.

The invention includes compositions comprising at least one chimeric autoantibody receptor (CAAR) specific for an autoantibody, vectors comprising the same, compositions comprising CAAR vectors packaged in viral particles, and recombinant T cells comprising the CAAR. The invention also includes methods of making a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAAR (CAART) wherein the expressed CAAR comprises a desmoglein extracellular domain.

Described herein are methods for producing and utilizing an alternative signal 1 domain to construct an optimally signaling CAR. Alternative signal 1 domains of the present technology are based on alternatives to CD3ζ, including mutated ITAMs from CD3ζ (which contains 3 IT AM motifs), truncations of CD3ζ, and alternative splice variants known as CD3s, CD3 theta, and artificial constructs engineered to express fusions between CD3s or CD30 and CD3ζ. CAR polypeptides comprising alternative signal 1 domains are utilized to engineer CAR T cells. Further, this technology related to methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject in need thereof CAR T cells comprising alternative signal 1 domains.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clustering—an onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.