Abstract: Disclosed herein are cells that are immune cells, which cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell, and optionally recombinantly express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), wherein the CAR binds to a viral antigen. In certain embodiments, the immune cell is an immunostimulatory cell, such as a T cell. In certain embodiments, the immune cell is an immunoinhibitory cell, such as a regulatory T cell. Also disclosed herein are immune cells that recognize and are sensitized to a viral antigen, which immune cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell. The cells can be sensitized to an antigen that is a viral antigen. Additionally provided are methods of using such cells to treat a viral infection in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A method for selecting cancer patient for treatment with Seneca Valley Virus (SVV) by determining expression of ANTXR1 in a cancerous tissue in a cancer patient; and designating the cancer patient as a candidate for treatment with SVV if normal levels or elevated levels of ANTXR1 expression is detected in the cancerous tissue. Also a method for treating a cancer patient with SVV is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds useful as modulators, agonists or antagonists of androgen receptor (AR), compositions thereof, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: This invention provides peptides, immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising same, and methods of treating, reducing the incidence of, and inducing immune responses to a WT1-expressing cancer, comprising same.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides antibodies that bind to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-accessible mediums can be provided that can establish particular parameters for electric pulses based on a characteristic(s) of the tissue(s), and control an application of the electric pulses to tissue(s) for a plurality of automatically controlled and separated time periods to ablate the tissue(s) through mediation of membrane potential and through inducing the cells through a plurality of charge-discharge cycles such that an electroporation of a majority of the tissue(s) is prevented or reduced.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides for expression cassettes that allow for expression of a globin gene or a functional portion thereof, vectors comprising thereof, and cells transduced with such expression cassettes and vectors. The presently disclosed subject matter further provides methods for treating a hemoglobinopathy in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of such transduced cells to the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are findings that: (a) induced pluripotent stem cells derived from aged donors (A-iPSC) show increased genomic instability, a defect in apoptosis, a defect in glucose metabolism, and a blunted DNA damage response are compared to those derived from young donors (Y-iPSC); and (b) inhibition of excessive glutathione-mediated H2O2 scavenging activity, found to be associated with A-iPSC and in turn inhibiting DNA damage response and apoptosis, substantially rescues these defects and reduces the oncogenic potential of A-iPSC. Supplementation of pluripotency factor ZSCAN10 (shown to be poorly activated in A-iPSC and to act upstream of glutathione involvement), e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response toward cancers and pathogens. It relates to an immunoresponsive cell comprising an antigen-recognizing receptor (e.g., a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T cell receptor (TCR)), and expressing increased level of IL-33. In certain embodiments, the engineered immunoresponsive cells are antigen-directed and have enhanced immune-activating properties.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to compounds useful in the imaging of peripheral neurons.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing at least one of an antigen recognizing receptor and one of a chimeric costimulatory receptor. Methods of using the immunoresponsive cell include those for the treatment of neoplasia and other pathologies where an increase in an antigen-specific immune response is desired.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides for methods and compositions for enhancing the immune response toward cancers and pathogens. It relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically target human mesothelin, and immunoresponsive cells comprising such CARs. The presently disclosed mesothelin-targeted CARs have enhanced immune-activating properties, including anti-tumor activity.

Abstract: The present application relates to triterpene glycoside saponin-derived adjuvants, syntheses thereof, and intermediates thereto. The application also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of the present invention and methods of using said compounds or compositions in the treatment of and immunization for infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of cell biology of stem cells, more specifically the directed differentiation of pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells (hESC), somatic stem cells, and induced human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using novel culture conditions. Specifically, methods are provided for obtaining neural tissue, floor plate cells, and placode including induction of neural plate development in hESCs for obtaining midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, motor neurons, and sensory neurons. Further, neural plate tissue obtained using methods of the present inventions are contemplated for use in co-cultures with other tissues as inducers for shifting differentiation pathways, i.e. patterning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting growth and proliferation of cancer cells resistant to PI3K inhibition using a combination of PDK1, SGK1 and PI3K inhibitors. The present invention is also directed to methods of treating cancer in a subject exhibiting cancer cells resistant to PI3K inhibition, comprising administering inhibitors of PI3K in combination with inhibitors of PDK1 and/or SGK1 to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting metastatic spread of cancer and/or inhibiting progression of pre-existing metastatic disease in a subject using L1CAM inhibition.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for adoptive cell therapy comprising engineered immune cells that express an antigen-targeted chimeric antigen receptor and a prodrug converting enzyme for the treatment of inflammation, inflammatory diseases, or pathogenic infections.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of enhancing susceptibility of neoplastic, transformed, and/or cancer cells (“cancer cells”) to immunotherapeutic agents. The methods comprise contacting the cancer cell with an agent that modulates RNA splicing. In some embodiments, the method further comprise contacting the cancer cell with the immunotherapeutic agent, such as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The disclosure also provides compositions and/or methods for treating a subject with cancer. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for combination therapy that comprises administering to a subject with cancer an effective amount of an agent that modulates RNA splicing and a therapeutically effective amount of an immunotherapeutic agent, such as an immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing the risk and severity of C. difficile infection. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that a restricted fraction of the gut microbiota, including the bacterium Clostridium scindens, contributes substantially to resistance against C. difficile infection. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that this is achieved through the biosynthesis of secondary bile acids.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for identifying regions of interest (ROIs) in images. A computing system may identify an image including an annotation defining an ROI. The image may have a plurality of pixels in a first color space. The computing system may convert the plurality of pixels from the first color space to a second color space to differentiate the annotation from the ROI. The computing system may select a first subset of pixels corresponding to the annotation based at least on a color value of the first subset of pixels in the second color space. The computing system may identify a second subset of pixels included in the ROI from the image using the first subset of pixels. The computing system may store an association between the second subset of pixels and the ROI defined by the annotation in the image.