The disclosure relates to a fusion protein comprising at least a first and a second peptide, wherein —the second peptide comprises a targeting region and a first and a second interaction region, —the second peptide is located on the surface of the fusion protein; —the second peptide comprises at least two interaction pairs, wherein an interaction pair is formed by an amino acid of the first interaction region and an amino acid of the second interaction region, —the interaction between the amino acids of an interaction pair is covalent or non-covalent; and —at least one interaction pair is a covalent interaction pair in which the amino acids are covalently bound, and to virus like particles (VLP) comprising the fusion protein for use as drug delivery system. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the fusion protein, suitable expression vectors, host cells, production methods for the fusion protein and the VLP comprising the fusion protein.

The invention discloses a human adenovirus species C having a capsid which comprises a modified adenovirus hexon protein, wherein the modified adenovirus hexon protein has a modified HVR1 region, wherein the modified HVR1 region has the sequence DEAATALEINLKKKKQAEQQ (SEQ ID NO.: 1). The invention further discloses the adenovirus of the disclosure for use in treating or preventing a human disease. The invention further discloses a nucleic acid encoding the modified adenovirus hexon protein. The invention further discloses the use of an adenovirus according to the disclosure for transducing mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or tumor cells. The invention further discloses an in vitro method for transducing MSCs and a transduced MSC obtainable by the method. The invention further discloses the transduced MSC of the disclosure for use in treating a disease.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a membrane-bound biotin mimetic peptide (BMP) or biotin acceptor peptide (BAP). The invention also relates to a method for selection of high producer cells secreting a protein of interest.

Described herein are compositions, systems, and methods for nucleic acid editing. The editing may be accomplished using a ligase coupled to an endonuclease. The nucleic acid editing may include ligation of an integrating nucleic acid to a target nucleic acid. The nucleic acid editing may include replacement of a portion of the target nucleic acid with the integrating nucleic acid.

The present disclosure provides targeting peptides and vectors containing a sequence that encodes targeting peptides that deliver agents to the brain.

The invention relates to a peptide, polypeptide, or protein that binds specifically to cells of the lung endothelium. The peptide, polypeptide, or protein can be a component of a viral capsid and can be used to lead a recombinant viral vector selectively to the lung endothelial tissue after systemic administration to a subject and to ensure tissue-specific expression of one or more transgenes there. The invention thus further relates to a recombinant viral vector, preferably an AAV vector, which comprises a capsid comprising the peptide, polypeptide, or protein according to the invention and which comprises at least one transgene packaged in the capsid. The viral vector is suitable in particular for the therapeutic treatment of a lung disorder or a lung disease. The invention further relates to cells and pharmaceutical compositions which comprise the viral vector according to the invention.

The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g. siRNA or a protein toxin such as ricin toxin A-chain or diphtheria toxin A-chain) and/or a histone-packaged plasmid DNA disposed within the nanoporous silica core (preferably supercoiled in order to more efficiently package the DNA into protocells) which is optionally modified with a nuclear localization sequence to assist in localizing protocells within the nucleus of the cancer cell and the ability to express peptides involved in therapy (apoptosis/cell death) of the cancer cell or as a reporter, a targeting peptide which targets cancer cells in tissue to be treated such that binding of the protocell to the targeted cells is specific and enhanced and a fusogenic peptide that promotes endosomal escape of protocells and encapsulated DNA. Protocells according to the present invention may be used to treat cancer, especially including hepatocellular (liver) cancer using novel binding peptides (c-MET peptides) which selectively bind to hepatocellular tissue or to function in diagnosis of cancer, including cancer treatment and drug discovery.

An antisense compound for use in treating myotonic dystrophy DM1 or DM2, a method of enhancing antisense targeting to heart and quadricep muscles, and a method for treating DM1 or DM2 in a mammalian subject are disclosed. The oligonucleotide has 8-30 bases, with at least 8 contiguous bases being complementary to the polyCUG or polyCCUG repeats in the 3′UTR region of dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) mRNA in DM1 or DM2, respectively. Conjugated to the oligonucleotide is a cell-penetrating peptide having the sequence (RXRR(B/X)R).sub.2XB, where R is arginine; B is β-alanine; and each X is —C(O)—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—NH—, where n is 4-6. The antisense compound is effective to selectively block the sequestration of muscleblind-like 1 protein (MBNL1) and/or CUGBP, in heart and quadricep muscle in a myotonic dystrophy animal model.

The present disclosure provides adeno-associated virus (AAV) virions with altered capsid protein, where the AAV virions exhibit greater infectivity of retinal cells, when administered via intravitreal injection, compared to wild-type AAV. The present disclosure further provides methods of delivering a gene product to a retinal cell in an individual, and methods of treating ocular disease.

The present invention provides anti-tau constructs. Anti-tau constructs of the invention are polynucleotide sequences encoding a polypeptide comprising at least one tau binding moiety and optionally comprising a signal peptide and/or a purification moiety. The present invention also provides isolated polypeptides encoded by anti-tau constructs, vectors comprising anti-tau constructs, and isolated cells comprising said vectors.