Abstract: Disclosed herein are cells that are immune cells or precursor cells thereof, which cells recombinantly express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell, wherein the CAR binds to a cancer antigen. Also disclosed herein are T cells that recognize and are sensitized to a cancer antigen, which T cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a T cell-mediated immune response. Additionally provided are methods of using such cells to treat cancer in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods and compositions for treating cancer (e.g., melanoma). It relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically target MDA (e.g., Trp1), and immunoresponsive cells comprising such CARs. The presently disclosed MDA-specific CARs have enhanced immune-activating properties, including anti-tumor activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for improving in vivo survival of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons (e.g., in vitro differentiated mDA neurons) by suppressing p53-mediated apoptosis of mDA neurons. The present disclosure further provides methods for treating a subject (e.g., a subject suffering from neurodegeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons, and/or a neurodegenerative disease), comprising administering to the subject one or more mDAs, wherein p53-mediated apoptosis of the one or more mDA neurons is suppressed.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for feature detection in images. A computing system may identify a biomedical image having features. The computing system may apply the biomedical image to a feature detection model. The feature detection model may include an encoder-decoder block to generate a feature map corresponding to the biomedical image, a confidence map generator having a second set of parameters to generate a confidence map using the feature map, and a localization map generator to generate a localization map using the feature map. The computing system may generate a resultant map based on the confidence map and the localization map. The resultant map identifying one or more points corresponding to the one or more features. The computing system may provide the one or more points identified in the resultant map for the biomedical image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to immunoglobulin-related compositions (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof) that can bind to and neutralize the activity of polysialic acid. The antibodies of the present technology are useful in methods for detecting and treating a polysialic acid-associated cancer in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present application relates generally to image tiling, including but not limited to systems and methods of fast whole slide tissue tiling. A computing system may identify a first image of a first dimension from which to select one or more tiles. The computing system may perform a reduction operation on the first image to generate a second image of a second dimension. The computing system may apply a thresholding operation on the second image to identify a first set of pixels corresponding to the presence of the feature and a second set of pixels corresponding to the absence of the feature based on an intensity of each pixel in the second image. The computing system may select, from a plurality of tiles corresponding to the first image, a subset of tiles corresponding to the first set of pixels identified from the second image.

Abstract: Truncated triterpene saponin analogues containing a trisaccharide or tetrasaccharide ester are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising truncated saponin analogues and synthetic methods of producing the truncated saponin analogues. Another aspect of the present application relates to a method for immunizing a subject, comprising administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition comprising a minimal saponin analogue and an antigen.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, and uses involving antibodies that immunospecifically bind the Galactin-3 (LGALS3) carbohydrate binding domain (CBD). Also provided herein are uses and methods for managing, treating, or preventing disorders, such as cancer.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for adoptive cell therapy comprising engineered immune cells that express a tumor antigen-targeted chimeric antigen receptor and a prodrug converting enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method for deriving respiratory gated PET image reconstruction from raw PET data. In reconstructing the respiratory gated images in accordance with the present invention, respiratory motion information derived from individual voxel signal fluctuations, is used in combination to create usable respiratory phase information. Employing this method allows the respiratory gated PET images to be reconstructed from PET data without the use of external hardware, and in a fully automated manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in various embodiments, systems and methods for robotic manipulation of a patient's anatomy, such as the uterus, during minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides uses of anti-B7H3 antibodies for treating cancers in the central nervous system (CNS), including tumors metastatic to CNS, and in particular leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in some embodiments, methods for culturing and expanding hematopoietic stem cells (HSPCs) comprising a genomic modification associated with clonal hematopoiesis (CH). These cultured and expanded HSPCs are used, in some embodiments, to identify genes that promote CH, to identify inhibitors of CH, and to inhibit CH.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, and uses involving anti-Mucin-16 (MUC16) agents that immunospecifically bind an epitope of Mucin-16 (MUC16). Also provided herein are uses and methods for managing, treating, or preventing disorders, such as cancer and diseases associated with positive MUC16 expression.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of treating, reducing the incidence of, and inducing immune responses to a WT1-expressing cancer, by administering a combination of at least one WT1 peptide, or cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) against a WT1-expressing cancer, and at least one checkpoint inhibitor. The at least one WT1 peptide can be administered to the subject by administering one or more agents to the subject resulting in delivery of one or more WT1 peptides and induction of an immune response against the WT1-expressing cancer. Examples of these WT1 delivery agents include: (i) an isolated WT1 peptide, (ii) a nucleic acid encoding the at least one WT1 peptide, and (iii) an immune cell comprising or presenting the at least one WT1 peptide or nucleic acid encoding the at least one WT1 peptide.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides for in vitro methods of inducing differentiation of human stem cells into midbrain dopamine neurons, and precursors thereof, and cells generated by such methods. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for uses of such cells for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides cells comprising a Fas ligand (FasL) polypeptide and a cFLIP polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the cells further comprise an antigen-recognizing receptor (e.g., a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T cell receptor (TCR), or a TCR like fusion molecule). Also provided are uses of the cells for cell lysis of target cells expressing Fas, and for treating diseases or disorders, e.g., tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of adoptive immunotherapy. The invention provides methods for generating phenotypically defined, functional, and/or expandable T cells from pluripotent stem cells engineered through safe genetic modifications. The engineered cells may provide one or more of: 1) targeting a specific predetermined antigen expressed on the cell surface of a target cell in an HLA independent manner, 2) enhanced survival and functional potential 3) “off-the-shelf” T cells for administration to multiple recipients, eventually across immunogenic barriers, and/or 4) cytotoxic potential and anti-tumor activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for modulating (e.g., maintaining) pluripotency and self-renewal property of cells (e.g., stem cells) by blocking the non-canonical tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (e.g. using an inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase (ACL) or acetate), and kits and compositions relating thereto.

Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating or preventing edema, using an anti-T cell agent, an anti-TGF-?1 agent, or an anti-angiotensin agent, preferably a combination of at least two such agents. The pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated for systemic or local administration, and are preferably administered topically.