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.

The present invention relates to an autophagic cell targeted peptide and its use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the general formula (I) and specifically binding to an autophagic cell and a composition for detecting autophagic cells comprising the same as an active ingredient, a drug delivery composition containing the same as an active ingredient, and a composition for imaging comprising the same as an active ingredient. The peptide of the present invention specifically binds to the cell membrane of autophagic cells and can be applied to various kinds of tissues and cells. Also the detection and imaging effect of autophagy is remarkable in vitro and in vivo.

Chimeric antigen receptors containing human CD19 antigen binding domains are disclosed. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, antigen binding fragments, and pharmaceutical compositions, relating to the chimeric antigen receptors are also disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing cancer in a subject, and methods of making chimeric antigen receptor T cells are also disclosed.

Non-hormonal contraception compositions and methods for contraception are provided. One embodiment provides an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to one or more sperm antigens and inhibits the ability of anti-body-bound sperm to fertilize an egg. Typically, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, for example a human or humanized monoclonal antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof specifically binds to CD52g expressed on vertebrate, for example human, sperm cells and inhibits, blocks, or reduces the ability of the antibody-bound sperm to fertilize an egg. In one embodiment the antibody contains a membrane anchor. The membrane anchor can contain transmembrane domains, glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors, or myristoylation motifs.

The present invention is situated in the field of multimers used for targeted therapies. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for preparing multifunctional heteromultimeric protein complexes with a defined ratio of functional components and to multifunctional heteromultimeric protein complexes for directing complement-dependent cytolysis, optionally comprising a scaffold, which display three or more different functional components present in a defined relative ratio, of which one is a tracking component.

The present disclosure provides a high-throughput screening system and method for identification of novel drugs and drug targets. The method enables large-scale analysis of interactions between allogeneic pairs of target cells and immune cells by using an immune-bridge protein, library of guide RNA, and/or 3D tumor model.

Anti-PVRIG and anti-TIGIT antibodies are provided.

Signal sequences useful for targeting proteins and peptides to the surface of endospores produced by Paenibacillus family members and methods of using the same are provided. The display of heterologous molecules, such as peptides, polypeptides and other recombinant constructs, on the spore surface of Paenibacillus family members, using particular N-terminal targeting sequences and derivatives of the same, are also provided.

A Twin Immune Cell Engager (TWICE) is a kit or composition for treating cancer comprising a first component and second component. Each component comprises a targeting moiety that binds a tumor antigen expressed by the cancer or an antigen expressed by a non-cancer cell in the tumor microenvironment. In some embodiments, the first and second components each comprise an immune cell binding domain capable of immune cell binding activity when binding the immune cell binding domain in the other component, and a complementary binding domain capable of binding to a complementary antigen when binding the complementary binding domain in the other component. In some embodiments, the first and/or second components comprise a complementary functional domain with activity when targeted to the cancer cell or its microenvironment.