Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for treating Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The risk of developing therapy resistant GBM may be assessed by detecting the presence of ABCB5 in the GBM cells. Therapeutic interventions utilizing an ABCB5 blockade to sensitize the GBM cells to therapeutic agents such as temozolomide are provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonists for use in enhancing human immune response and/or as adjuvants in vaccines. The TLR2 agonists include thiophenes, imidazoles, or phenyl-containing compounds, which may be compounds of Formulae (I), (II), (III), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, prodrugs, and compositions thereof. The compounds described herein are used as enhancers of an immune response (e.g., innate and/or adaptive immune response), and are useful in treating and/or preventing a disease, as adjuvants in a vaccine for the disease, (e.g., proliferative disease, inflammatory disease, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, or chronic disease). Also provided in the present disclosure are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, methods, and uses including or using a compound described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some aspects, are delivery vehicles comprising a glycosphingolipid and an agent to be delivered attached to the glycosphingolipid. In some embodiments, the glycosphingolipid comprises an oligosaccharide and a short chain (e.g., C0-C3) ceramide. In some embodiments, the agent to be delivered is a therapeutic agent. The glycosphingolipid is able to deliver the agent to a cell or to a cellular compartment, as well as across the musical barrier. In some embodiments, agents delivered using the glycosphingolipid described herein exhibit longer half-life, compared to agents delivered alone. Methods of delivering a therapeutic agent to a subject for treating a disease using the glycosphingolipid delivery vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods related to methods of predicting sensitivity to NER-targeting agents for the treatment of cancer. In one aspect, provided herein is a method for treating cancer in a subject) of at least 0.70 and the anti-cancer treatment comprises an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: Provided herein are Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) ligand for use in enhancing immune response and/or as adjuvants in vaccines. In some embodiments, STING ligand is used alone or in combination with Alum in an adjuventation system for early life immunization.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating brain or nerve injury.

Abstract: An insertable catheter device includes a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable balloon, and an actuator configured to expand and retract the expandable balloon. The actuator includes a fluid conduit that extends through the shaft and is coupled with the expandable balloon to enable inflation and retraction of the expandable balloon via injection or withdrawal of a fluid to or from the expandable balloon via the fluid conduit. The expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and extendable from the shaft. A fluid pump is coupled with the fluid conduit to pump the fluid through the fluid conduit. A patch is positioned to be displaced by the expandable balloon when the expandable balloon is inflated, and the expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and displaceably extendable from the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to purified preparations of dermal mesenchymal stem cells that are characterized by the cell surface expression of the ABCB5 P-glycoprotein. The cells may be used for any purpose that mesenchymal stem cells from other course are used. For instance they may be administered to treat an organ transplant recipient to improve allograft survival or as a treatment to patients with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification of novel biomarkers predictive of responsiveness to anti-immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

Abstract: Provided herein are anaplastic lymphoma kinase chimeric antigen receptors (ALK CARs). The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding ALK CARs, engineered immune cells comprising an ALK CAR, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and kits for administering the same. Methods of treating a subject with a disease by administering the ALK CAR or engineered immune cell comprising an ALK CAR, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: A medical equipment adaptable travel restraint system includes a number of features to support transportation and use of durable medical equipment including crash-safe transportation in a vehicle, vehicle-to-site transportation by a user for deployment, and operation of the durable medical equipment by the user without removal from a carrier of the medical equipment adaptable travel restraint system.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a dual-vector intein-mediated protein trans-splicing system, cells, compositions, and methods of using the same for gene therapy. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating an autosomal recessive type of non-syndromic deafness, DFNB16, by delivering a STRC gene, encoding a STRC protein, using the dual-vector system described herein.

Abstract: Technologies for the prevention and/or treatment of pneumococcal infections.

Abstract: The present application is generally directed to novel pneumococcal polypeptide antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and immunogenic compositions comprising such antigens for treating and preventing pneumococcal infection. The present invention further provides method of using the antigens to elicits an immune response (e.g., IL-17A response, a T cell-mediated and/or B-cell-mediated immune responses). The present invention also provides methods of prophylaxis and/or treatment of pneumococcal-mediated diseases, such as sepsis, comprising administering an immunogenic composition including one or more of a combination of pneumococcal antigens or functional fragments thereof as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, one or more pneumococcal antigens can be present in a polysaccharide conjugate. The compositions induce an anti-pneumoccocus immune response when administered to a mammal.

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to stromal-free methods of T cell differentiation. Also described herein are immune cells differentiated using stromal-free methods and compositions comprising such immune cells. In some embodiments, the immune cells can be genetically modified. In some embodiments, the immune cells or compositions comprising said immune cells can be administered to a patient as a cellular replacement therapy to treat a condition.

Abstract: Methods for developing disease-related nanobodies and related products and kits are provided. The disease-specific proteins are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, domains or epitopes that are associated with various aspects of disease and are not present, or are present in very low quantities, in non-diseased individuals. Highly effective nanobodies capable of specifically binding to these ECM protein epitopes useful in in vivo imaging assays, the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as monitoring therapeutic progress in a patient with a disease are provided herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and products for detecting analytes in a sample. The analytes may be rare analytes such as biomarkers in a biological sample. These methods make use of nucleic acid nanoswitches that adopt a particular conformation and have a particular length in the presence of an analyte.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polypeptides and fusion polypeptides that have anti-angiogenic activity that can be used to inhibit tumor growth and tumor metastasis. The polypeptide consists of 9 or less consecutive amino acid residues (e.g., 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4) comprising the active core amino acid sequence DWLP, or an amino acid substitution variant thereof. Specific amino acid substitutions are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the peptide consists essentially of 4-6 mers identified as exhibiting the activity of prosaposin A. Also disclosed herein are therapeutic compositions comprising the polypeptides and fusion polypeptides, and their use in the treatment, prevention, and inhibition of angiogenesis-related diseases and disorders such as cancer and cancer metastasis.

Abstract: The present application is generally directed to novel pneumococcal polypeptide antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and immunogenic compositions comprising such antigens for treating and preventing pneumococcal infection. The present invention further provides method of using the antigens to elicits an immune response (e.g., IL-17A response, a T cell-mediated and/or B-cell-mediated immune responses). The present invention also provides methods of prophylaxis and/or treatment of pneumococcal-mediated diseases, such as sepsis, comprising administering an immunogenic composition including one or more of a combination of pneumococcal antigens or functional fragments thereof as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, one or more pneumococcal antigens can be present in a polysaccharide conjugate. The compositions induce an anti-pneumococcus immune response when administered to a mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in screening compounds based on their ability to modulate binding interactions, wherein the compounds are barcoded.