Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for targeting a Ras antigen to, for example, treat or prevent cancer. Disclosed embodiments include binding proteins, such as a T cell receptor or a chimeric antigen receptor, that bind to a Ras antigen:HLA complex. Polynucleotides encoding such binding protein can introduced into a host cell, such as a T cell, and the cell can be used in immunotherapy for treating various cancers. Also provided are immunogenic polypeptides that can be useful to, for example, induce an immune response against a mutated Ras or to identify a binding protein that binds to a Ras antigen.

Abstract: A method for detecting the binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in a cell, including: contacting a permeabilized cell or nucleus with a specific binding agent that specifically recognizes the chromatin-associated factor of interest, wherein the specific binding agent is linked to a nuclease that is inactive or an activatable transposome; activating the nuclease or transposase, thereby excising the sequence of chromatin DNA bound to the chromatin-associated factor of interest; isolating the excised DNA; and determining the sequence of the excised DNA, thereby detecting binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in the cell.

Abstract: Hematopoeitic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) and/or non-T effector cells are modified to express an extracellular component including a tag cassette. The tag cassette can be used to activate, promote proliferation of, detect, enrich, isolate, track, deplete and/or eliminate modified cells. The cells can also be modified to express a binding domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for immortalizing precursor cells that are non-terminally differentiated cells such as stem cells, the methods comprising culturing the precursor cells in the presence of a Notch 1 agonist, Notch 2 agonist or Notch 1 agonist and Notch 2 agonist (and, in particular embodiments, one or more growth factors) that support the proliferation but not differentiation of the non-terminally differentiated cells. The present disclosure further provides methods to induce the differentiation of immortalized cells, comprising growing the cells in the presence of a Notch 1 agonist, Notch 2 agonist or Notch 1 agonist and Notch 2 agonist and at least one growth factor which supports the differentiation of the cell into a more specialized cell type. The immortalized and/or differentiated cells of the disclosure can be used to repopulate cell populations that have been diminished, for example as a result of infection or exposure to certain drugs.

Abstract: Siderocalin-metal chelator combinations that bind metallic radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine with high affinity are described. The high affinity siderocalin-metal chelator combinations include a number of chelator backbone arrangements with functional groups that coordinate with metals. The siderocalin-metal chelator combinations can be used to deliver radionuclides for imaging and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: Devices and methods for bio-specimen refrigeration are provided. In an embodiment, the bio-specimen refrigeration devices of the present disclosure include a housing having a lid and a base portion, wherein the lid is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position; a coolant cartridge chamber disposed in the housing and configured to fluidically couple with a coolant cartridge disposed in the coolant cartridge chamber; and a cooling chamber disposed in the housing and configured to receive a fluid coolant from the coolant cartridge, wherein in the closed position, the lid seals the cooling chamber.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides protein residue mapping using a combination of deep mutational scanning and phage display high throughput sequencing. The disclosed methods allow mapping of antibody epitopes and determination of changes in residues of a protein that abolish binding of the protein to a candidate binding molecule.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treatment of malignancies are provided. The methods utilize implantation of engineered, programmable hydrogel depots capable of long-term molecule release into close proximity of the tumor. By providing gradients of immune cell chemokines and releasing immune checkpoint inhibitors, the hydrogel implants are effective at elimination of tumor cells via immune cell-mediated cell death.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating lymphoma that expresses a short histone H2A variant. In some embodiments, the method can comprise collecting a sample from a subject having or suspected of having lymphoma, detecting a short histone H2A variant (sH2A) expression level in the sample collected from the subject, and administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of an anthracycline agent, if the subject has sH2A variant expression level that is detectable. In other embodiments, the sH2A is the H2A.B variant. In other embodiments, the anthracycline agent can be aclarubicin.

Abstract: Cancer combination therapies utilizing a nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor in combination with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) salvage pathway precursor are described. Cancers treated with the combination therapies can be nicotinamide riboside kinase (NMRK1) low cancers and/or Myc high cancers and can include various forms of glioblastomas.

Abstract: Methods for preparing ex vivo T cell cultures using IL-21 compositions for use in adoptive immunotherapy are described. Addition of IL-21 to cultures of non-terminally differentiated T cells population, either isolated or present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are exposed to one or more tumor antigens, and in the presence of IL-21 compositions and antigen presenting cells (APCs), the resulting T cell population has an enhanced antigen-specificity, and can be reintroduced into the patient. Methods are also disclosed for identifying tumor antigens by culturing T cell populations exposed to IL-21 compositions and APCs in the presence of tumor material.

Abstract: Systems and methods to tag cells in a tissue sample with spatial identifiers, so that spatial reconstruction of cell locations within a tissue can be achieved after tissue disaggregation are described. The systems and methods allow the control or directing of specific spatial identifiers spatially within or throughout a tissue to individual cells or to a small population of cells so that cell position can be determined by computational deconvolution of the spatial identifiers after tissue disaggregation. The systems and methods can be combined with single cell expression analysis to correlate cell types with cell location within a structure, such as a tumor.

Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively protect therapeutic cells by reducing CD33 expression in the therapeutic cells and targeting non-therapeutic cells with an anti-CD33 therapy. The selective protection results in the enrichment of the therapeutic cells while simultaneously targeting any diseased, malignant and/or non-therapeutic CD33 expressing cells within a subject.

Abstract: The invention provides the present invention provides a faecal detection sensor for an absorbent article. The sensor includes a faeces-sensitive material that reacts to the presence of a constituent of faecal matter, wherein the sensor exhibits an electrical property that changes following the reaction of the faeces-sensitive material. In embodiments of the invention the faeces sensitive material is a material that reacts due to the presence of a sulfur-containing compound in faecal matter, such as metallic faeces-sensitive materials, or is a material that reacts with a faecal enzyme and/or other constituents of faecal matter, such as organic faeces-sensitive materials.

Abstract: A method of carrying out adoptive immunotherapy by administering a subject an antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) preparation in a treatment-effective amount is described. In the method, the CTL preparation is preferably administered as a preparation of an in vitro antigen-stimulated and expanded primate CTL population, the CTL population: (i) depleted of FoxP3+T lymphocytes prior to antigen stimulation; (ii) antigen-stimulated in vitro in the presence of interleukin-21; or (iii) both depleted of FoxP3+T lymphocytes prior to antigen stimulation and then antigen-stimulated in vitro in the presence of interleukin-21. Methods of preparing such compositions, and compositions useful for carrying out the adoptive immunotherapy, are also described.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions and related methods providing targeted cell-specific inhibition of Notch receptor signaling. The disclosure provides a bi-specific molecule with separate domains that target the intended cell-type and the Notch receptor on that cell-type. The disclosure also provides for nucleic acids, vectors, and cells allowing for the expression of the bi-specific fusion molecules. The disclosure also provides related methods of making and using the bi-specific fusion molecule to inhibit Notch signaling in target cells of interest, including for the treatment of diseases characterized by a dysregulation of Notch signaling.

Abstract: Siderocalin-metal chelator combinations that bind metallic radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine with high affinity are described. The high affinity siderocalin-metal chelator combinations include a number of chelator backbone arrangements with functional groups that coordinate with metals. The siderocalin-metal chelator combinations can be used to deliver radionuclides for imaging and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: Nanoparticles to genetically modify selected cell types within a biological sample that has been subjected to reduced or minimal manipulation are described. The nanoparticles deliver all components required for precise genome engineering and overcome numerous drawbacks associated with current clinical practices to genetically engineer cells for therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A method of measuring immunocompetence is described. This method provides a means for assessing the effects of diseases or conditions that compromise the immune system and of therapies aimed to reconstitute it. This method is based on quantifying T-cell diversity by calculating the number of diverse T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain variable regions from blood cells.

Abstract: A mobile building constructed on a trailer, comprising: a wheeled trailer upon which the building is built, a floor and a plurality of walls secured to the trailer; and a roof structure, wherein external sides of the walls are braced with sheeting secured to the walls, the sheeting extending from a base of the building and securing to the roof structure.