Abstract: The present invention relates to Transcription Activator-Like Effector (TALE) derived proteins that allow efficient targeting and/or processing of double stranded nucleic acid sequences. The proteins of the invention are typically chimeric protein monomers composed of a core scaffold comprising Repeat Variable Dipeptide regions (RVDs) having binding specificity to a DNA target sequence, to which is fused a catalytic domain to its N-terminus. This later catalytic domain, which can be a monomer of a nuclease, is placed at this position to possibly interact with another catalytic domain fused to another TAL monomer, such that, when the monomers are binding to their respective target DNA sequences, both catalytic domains form a catalytic entity likely to process DNA in the proximity of these target sequences. This new TAL architecture makes it possible to target only one DNA strand, which is not the case, for instance, with classical TALEN architectures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of “off-the-shelf” allogeneic therapeutic cells for immunotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat patients with cancer. In particular, the inventors develop a method of engineering allogeneic T-cell resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. The therapeutic benefits afforded by this strategy should be enhanced by the synergistic effects between chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for modifying T-cells by inactivating at least one gene encoding T-cell receptor component and by modifying said T-cells to confer drug resistance. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer.

Abstract: Methods for developing engineered T-cells for immunotherapy that are both non-alloreactive and resistant to immunosuppressive drugs. The present invention relates to methods for modifying T-cells by inactivating both genes encoding target for an immunosuppressive agent and T-cell receptor, in particular genes encoding CD52 and TCR. This method involves the use of specific rare cutting endonucleases, in particular TALE-nucleases (TAL effector endonuclease) and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, to precisely target a selection of key genes in T-cells, which are available from donors or from culture of primary cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to engineered immune cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered immune cells of the present invention are characterized in that at least one gene selected from a gene encoding GCN2 and a gene encoding PRDM1 is inactivated or repressed. Such modified Immune cells are resistant to an arginine and/or tryptophan depleted microenvironment caused by, e.g., tumor cells, which makes the immune cells of the invention particularly suitable for immunotherapy. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using immune cells for treating different types of malignancies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of developing genetically engineered, preferably non-alloreactive T-cells for immunotherapy. This method involves the use of RNA-guided endonucleases, in particular Cas9/CRISPR system, to specifically target a selection of key genes in T-cells. The engineered T-cells are also intended to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to redirect their immune activity towards malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using T-Cells for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a 5T4 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against 5T4 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas and leukemia, and for solid tumors such as colon, stomach, and ovarian tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a ROR1 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against ROR1 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas and leukemia, and for solid tumors such as breast, colon, lung, and kidney tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a GD3 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against GD3 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating solid tumors such as melanomas, carcinomas or liquid tumor such as T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to cleave target nucleic acid sequence by the catalytic domain of a GIY-YIG homing endonucleases I-TevI. More precisely, the invention relates to the deciphering of new preferential I-TevI cleavage sites for efficient and specific cleavage activity. The invention concerns a method for the generation of TevI specific chimeric endonucleases to target nucleic acid sequence including such cleavage sites and methods of using same for gene editing.

Abstract: Methods of developing genetically engineered immune cells for immunotherapy, which can be endowed with Chimeric Antigen Receptors targeting an antigen marker that is common to both the pathological cells and said CD38 immune by the fact that the genes encoding said markers are inactivated in said immune cells by a rare cutting endonuclease such as TALEN, Cas9 or argonaute.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of developing genetically engineered, preferably non-alloreactive T-cells for immunotherapy. This method involves the use of RNA-guided endonucleases, in particular Cas9/CRISPR system, to specifically target a selection of key genes in T-cells. The engineered T-cells are also intended to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to redirect their immune activity towards malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using T-Cells for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: An electroporation apparatus and its novel chamber with inlet ports for mixing cells and exogenous material. The inlet ports are oriented in nonparallel to each other immediately adjacent at the same top comer of the first wall of the chamber. The mixing chamber comprises successive wall sections, two curved walls at its bottom; the first curved comer is on the same side of the chamber where the liquids enter the chamber, and directs the liquids to the second curved comer at the opposing side of the chamber, which in turn further redirects the mixing to the first curved corner. The direction of the liquid flow mixture change direction at least twice into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of developing genetically engineered, preferably non-alloreactive T-cells for immunotherapy. This method involves the use of RNA-guided endonucleases, in particular Cas9/CRISPR system, to specifically target a selection of key genes in T-cells. The engineered T-cells are also intended to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to redirect their immune activity towards malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using T-Cells for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for making soybean varieties that have altered oil composition as a result of mutations in the FAD3A, FAD3B, and FAD3C genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new generation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) referred to as multi-chain CARs, which are made specific to the antigen ROR1. Such CARs aim to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward malignant cells expressing the tumor antigen ROR1. The alpha, beta and gamma polypeptides composing these CARs are designed to assemble in juxtamembrane position, which forms flexible architecture closer to natural receptors, that confers optimal signal transduction. The invention encompasses the polynucleotides, vectors encoding said multi-chain CAR and the isolated cells expressing them at their surface, in particularly for their use in immunotherapy. The invention opens the way to efficient adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer, especially chronic lymphocytic leukemia or solid tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new generation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), under single-chain or multi-chain forms, the specificity of which, to a desired antigen, is conferred by a VNAR polypeptide derived from monomeric antibodies from cartilaginous fish. Such CARs, which aim to redirect immune cell specificity toward selected undesired malignant cells, are compact and thus particularly adapted to target hollow antigens such as ions channels of efflux pumps present at the surface of drug-resistant cells. The invention encompasses the polynucleotides, vectors encoding said multi-chain CAR and the isolated cells expressing them at their surface, in particularly for their use in immunotherapy.

Abstract: A method of expanding TCRalpha deficient T-cells by expressing pTalpha or functional variants thereof into said cells, thereby restoring a functional CD3 complex. This method is particularly useful to enhance the efficiency of immunotherapy using primary T-cells from donors. This method involves the use of pTalpha or functional variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides to expand TCRalpha deficient T-cells. Such engineered cells can be obtained by using specific rare-cutting endonuclease, preferably TALE-nucleases. The use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR), especially multi-chain CAR, in such engineered cells to target malignant or infected cells. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for making Solanum varieties with decreased accumulation of reducing sugars and acrylamide in cold-stored potatoes, specifically, by making TALE-nuclease-induced mutations in genes encoding vacuolar invertase.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of genetic editing tools and methods of genetic engineering. It relates to the engineering of rare-cutting endonucleases designed to contract highly repetitive motives in chromosomes, which are at the origin of certain genetic diseases, in particular the so-called “triplet repeat diseases”, such as the Huntington disease. The invention encompasses the method for contracting the repetitive motives, the rare-cutting endonucleases for use to contract repetitive motives in a gene subjected to repeat disorder, the polynucleotides and vectors encoding thereof as well as the resulting pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: An electroporation apparatus and its novel chamber with inlet ports for mixing cells and exogenous material. The inlet ports are oriented in nonparallel to each other immediately adjacent at the same top corner of the first wall of the chamber. The mixing chamber comprises successive wall sections, two curved walls at its bottom; the first curved corner is on the same side of the chamber where the liquids enter the chamber, and directs the liquids to the second curved corner at the opposing side of the chamber which in turn further redirects the mixing to the first curved corner. The direction of the liquid flow mixture change direction at least twice into the mixing chamber.