Abstract: The present invention relates to viral transformation method, particularly foamy virus-mediated transformation method. The present invention relates to the transfer of transgene into cells by the safe and efficient transfer of RNA encoding foamy components. The present invention has therefore therapeutic interest, especially in the field of gene therapy.

Abstract: Methods for improving or modulating targeting specificity of TALE proteins by introducing alternative RVDs into their modular nucleic acid binding domains. Polynucleotides encoding TALE proteins having alternative targeting specificity towards a nucleic acid target sequence. TALE proteins having alternative targeting specificity towards a nucleic acid target sequence and methods of making and using them.

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 relates to a method for generating batches of lymphocytes with averaged potency. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of pooling lymphocytes from different donors to avoid NK alloreactivity and anti-HLA immune response. Lymphocytes from each donor are inactivated for at least a gene encoding a TCR component, and are pooled together before be administrated to a subject in need thereof. Thus, this method allows generating batches of lymphocytes with averaged potency, particularly to treat cancer, viral infection or auto-immune disease. The present invention also relates to a batch of lymphocytes obtainable by this method. The batch of lymphocytes can be used to be administrated to one or several patients, being made available as an “off the shelf” therapeutic product, in particular to treat cancer, auto-immune disease or viral infection.

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: 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: The present invention relates to a new generation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) referred to as multi-chain CARs. Such CARs, which aim to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward a selected target exploiting the ligand-binding domain properties, comprise separate extracellular ligand binding and signaling domains in different transmembrane polypeptides. 91The signaling domains 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 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 BCMA monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against BCMA positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas, multiple myeloma and leukemia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides and more particularly to Transcription Activator-Like Effector derived proteins that allow to efficiently target and/or process nucleic acids. Particularly, the present invention reports the characterization of TALE derived proteins that can efficiently target methylated DNA. The present invention more specifically relates to TALE derived proteins that allow activation of methylated promoters responsible for gene silencing.

Abstract: Materials and methods for making plants (e.g., Solanum varieties) with decreased levels of amylose are provided herein. The methods can include making mutations in the gene encoding granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), where the mutations are induced using a rare-cutting endonuclease.

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: The present invention relates to a method to engineer immune cell for immunotherapy. In particular said immune cells are engineered with chimeric antigen receptors, which be activated by the combination of hypoxia and ligand extracellular binding as input signals. The invention also relates to new designed chimeric antigen receptors which are able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward a selected target exploiting the ligand-binding domain properties and the hypoxia condition. The present invention also relates to cells obtained by the present method, in particular T-cells, comprising said chimeric antigen receptors for use in cancer treatments.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are designed to express both a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) directed against at least one antigen expressed at the surface of a malignant or infected cell, and a secreted inhibitor of regulatory T-cells (Treg). Preferably, such secreted inhibitor is a peptide inhibitor of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (FoxP3), a specific factor involved into the differentiation of T-cells into regulatory T-cells. The engineered T-cells of the invention direct their immune activity towards specific malignant or infected cells, while at the same time will prevent neighboring regulatory T-cells from modulating the immune response. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies, especially for treating or preventing cancer, and bacterial or viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are characterized in that the expression of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) and/or class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) is inhibited, e.g., by using rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding H2M and/or CIITA or by using nucleic acid molecules which inhibit the expression of B2M and/or CIITA. In order to further render the T-cell non-alloreactive, at least one gene encoding a component of the T-cell receptor is inactivated, e.g., by using a rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding said TCR component. In addition, expression of immunosuppressive polypeptide can be performed on those modified T-cells in order to prolong the survival of these modified T cells in host organism.

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 is in the field of a method for genome engineering based on the type II CRISPR system, particularly a method for improving specificity and reducing potential off-site. The method is based on the use of nickase architectures of Cas9 and single or multiple crRNA(s) harboring two different targets lowering the risk of producing off-site cleavage. The present invention also relates to polypeptides, polynucleotides, vectors, compositions, therapeutic applications related to the method described here.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for making soybean varieties that have altered oil composition as a result of mutations in the FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for developing engineered immune cells such as T-cells for immunotherapy that have a higher potential of persistence and/or engraftment in host organism. IN particular, this method involves an inactivation of at least one gene involved in self/non self recognition, combined with a step of contact with at least one non-endogenous immunosuppressive polypeptide. The invention allows the possibility for a standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy, whereby the risk of GvH is reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides engineered diatoms and methods of producing oil using diatoms. The invention also provides methods of modifying the lipids quantity and/or quality produced by diatom organisms through genome engineering. Also provided are oils, fuels, oleochemicals, chemical precursors, and other compounds manufactured from such modified diatoms.

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.