Abstract: The present invention relates to attenuated, immunogenic West Nile virus chimeras built on a dengue virus backbone for the production of immunogenic, live, attenuated West Nile virus vaccines.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods of killing cells in vitro or in vivo. In particular examples, the method includes contacting a cell having a cell surface protein with a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody-IR700 molecule, wherein the antibody specifically binds to the cell surface protein. In particular examples the antibody recognizes a tumor-specific antigen on the surface of a tumor cell. The cell is subsequently irradiated, such as at a wavelength of 660 to 740 nm at a dose of at least 1 J cm?2, thereby killing the cell. Also provided are wearable devices that include an article of clothing, jewelry, or covering; and an NIR LED incorporated into the article, which can be used with the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles that can be used to display two different trimeric antigens at an equal ratio. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles and methods of producing the recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles. Methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assaying the viscoelastic properties of a heterogeneous material are provided. The systems and methods allow for application of an in situ calibrated optical trap to optical trap beads within the material to assay the viscoelastic properties. In several embodiments, the material can be a biological material, such as tumor tissue or skin tissue.

Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptors containing CD33 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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a tumor in a subject, including administering to the subject one or more miRNA nucleic acids or variants (such as mimics or mimetics) thereof with altered expression in the tumor. Also disclosed herein are compositions including one or more miRNA nucleic acids. In some examples, the miRNA nucleic acids are modified miRNAs, for example, and miRNA nucleic acid including one or more modified nucleotides and/or a 5?-end and/or 3?-end modification. In particular examples, the modified miRNA nucleic acid is an miR-30a nucleic acid. Further disclosed herein are methods of diagnosing a subject as having a tumor with altered expression of one or more miRNA nucleic acids. In some embodiments, the methods include detecting expression of one or more miRNAs in a sample from the subject and comparing the expression in the sample from the subject to a control.

Abstract: A molecular nanotag is disclosed that includes a core nanoparticle with a diameter of less than about 100 nm, with an optional shell surrounding the core, and an armor bound to the surface of the core nanoparticle, or if present, to the surface of the shell. The molecular nanotag also includes a functionalized end with a fixed number of binding sites that can selectively bind to a molecular targeting ligand. Any one of, or any combination of, the core, the shell and the armor contribute to fluorescence, light scattering and/or ligand binding properties of the molecular tag that are detectable by microscopy or in a devices that measures intensity or power of fluorescence and light scattering.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are T cell receptors (TCRs) capable of binding an antigen expressed by renal cell carcinoma cells. In some examples, the TCRs include an ? chain (such as SEQ ID NO: 2) and a ? chain (such as SEQ ID NO: 3). Also disclosed herein are vectors including nucleic acids encoding the disclosed TCR ? and/or ? chains. Further disclosed are modified T cells expressing the TCRs. In some examples, the modified T cells are prepared by transducing T cells with a vector including nucleic acids encoding the TCR ? chain and the TCR ? chain. In some embodiments, methods include treating a subject with RCC, by obtaining a population of T cells, transducing the population of T cells with a vector including a nucleic acids encoding the TCR ? chain and the TCR ? chain, and administering a composition comprising the modified T cells to the subject.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (C AR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for FLT3, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Expression vectors and therapeutic methods of using such vectors in the treatment of diseases of the eye resulting from failure to produce a specific protein in the eye, or the production of a non-functional protein in the eye.

Abstract: Expression vectors, viral particles and therapeutic methods of using such constructs to improve the visual function of a patient suffering from diseases of the eye, resulting from failure to produce a specific protein in the eye, or the production of a non-functional protein in the eye, particularly Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) and CEP290-related LCA.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating and/or preventing retinal degeneration is a subject. In some embodiments, the method includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) to treat the retinal degeneration in the subject. In other embodiments, the SERM is administered orally. In some examples, the SERM is tamoxifen, afimoxifene, raloxifene, bazedoxifene, arzoxifene, desmethylarzoxifene, or a salt or derivative thereof, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention discloses the use of single-stranded RNA toeholds of different lengths to promote the re-association of various RNA-DNA hybrids, which results in activation of multiple split functionalities inside human cells. Previously designed RNA/DNA nanoparticles employed single-stranded DNA toeholds to initiate re-association. The use of RNA toeholds is advantageous because of the simpler design rules, the shorter toeholds, and the smaller size of the resulting nanoparticles compared to the same hybrid nanoparticles with single-stranded DNA toeholds. Moreover, the co-transcriptional assemblies result in higher yields for hybrid nanoparticles with ssRNA toeholds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to attenuated Zika viruses and vaccines, attenuated chimeric Zika viruses and vaccines, and to multivalent immunogenic compositions comprising Zika vaccines and vaccines to other flaviviruses. The chimeric Zika viruses includes a first nucleotide sequence encoding at least one structural protein from a Zika virus (ZIKV), a second nucleotide sequence encoding at least one nonstructural protein from a first flavivirus, and a third nucleotide sequence of a 3? untranslated region from a second flavivirus. The multivalent immunogenic compositions comprise an attenuated ZIKV vaccine or an attenuated chimeric ZIKV vaccine (or their combination) together with one or more of a first attenuated virus that is immunogenic against dengue serotype 1, a second attenuated virus that is immunogenic against dengue serotype 2, a third attenuated virus that is immunogenic against dengue serotype 3, and a fourth attenuated virus that is immunogenic against dengue serotype 4.

Abstract: A method of reducing cancer cell growth, a method of increasing sensitivity of cancer cells to CTL mediated killing, and a method of increasing sensitivity of cancer cells to NK mediated killing are provided. The methods comprise treating cancer cells with a combination of a HDAC inhibitor and immunotherapy.

Abstract: Embodiments of near-infrared light-cleavable heptamethine cyanine-based conjugates, particularly targeting agent-drug conjugates, according to Formula I and conjugate precursors are disclosed. The disclosed targeting agent-drug conjugates are useful for targeted delivery and release of a drug. Methods of making and using the conjugates and precursors also are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated peptides inhibit activity of a cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase. In some examples, the isolated peptide is 6-20 amino acids long and includes the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-22 or 54, an analog or derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. In some examples, the peptide is a cyclic peptide with an N-terminal ring of 6-15 amino acids (for example, 6-10 amino acids) and a C-terminal linear portion of 1-9 amino acids (for example, 3-8 amino acids. Also disclosed h are methods of treating or inhibiting an infection in a subject, including administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition including one of more of the disclosed peptides, or analogs or derivative thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gene transfer-based method to protect a subject from diabetes or obesity. The method comprises administering to a salivary gland of the subject an AAV virion comprising an AAV vector that encodes an exendin-4 protein. Also provided are exendin-4 proteins and nucleic acid molecules that encode such exendin-4 proteins. Also provided are AAV vectors and AAV virions that encode an exendin-4 protein. One embodiment is an exendin-4 protein that is a fusion protein comprising an NGF secretory segment joined to the amino terminus of an exendin-4 protein domain.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for detecting presence of a target nucleic acid (such as an influenza virus nucleic acid) in a sample. In some embodiments, the methods include contacting the sample with a first probe capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid and a second probe capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid, contacting the resulting complex with one or more gap filling reagents, thereby producing a gap-filled target nucleic acid, isolating and amplifying the gap-filled target nucleic acid. The amplified gap-filled target nucleic acid covalently linked to the substrate is then detected, for example with a detectably labeled probe. Also disclosed herein are probes capable of hybridizing to influenza virus nucleic acids. The disclosure also includes kits for detecting and/or discriminating influenza virus nucleic acids in a sample. In some examples, the kits include two or more of the disclosed probes.

Abstract: The present Disclosure is directed to methods for inhibiting or suppressing metastasis of a tumor in a mammalian subject using a cysteamine product, e.g., cysteamine or cystamine or a derivative thereof. Also described herein is a method for treating pancreatic cancer in a mammalian subject by administering a cysteamine product described herein.