Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining a cell population enriched for T cells having antigenic specificity for a cancer-specific mutation using in vitro stimulation of memory T cells. Also disclosed are related methods of isolating a T cell receptor (TCR), populations of cells, TCRs or antigen-binding portions thereof, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating or preventing cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing thymic emigrant cells in vitro, isolated or purified thymic emigrant cells prepared by the methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. Further disclosed are methods of treating or preventing a condition in a mammal comprising administering the thymic emigrant cells or pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same to the mammal.

Abstract: Embodiments of recombinant HIV-1 gp120 proteins that contain a V1 deletion are disclosed. Also provided are gp140, gp145, and gp160 proteins containing the V1 deletion, as well as HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers containing protomers containing the V1 deletion. Nucleic acid molecules encoding these proteins are also provided. In several embodiments, the disclosed recombinant HIV-1 proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjuvant comprising Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) agonist molecules linked to polymer chains that are capable of undergoing particle formation in aqueous conditions, or in aqueous conditions in response to external stimuli; and methods of treatment or prevention of disease using such an adjuvant.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, the method comprising: (a) isolating T cells from a tumor sample from the mammal, wherein the isolated T cells are one or both of exhausted and differentiated, and the isolated T cells have antigenic specificity for a tumor-specific antigen expressed by the tumor sample from the mammal, wherein the tumor-specific antigen is a tumor-specific neoantigen or an antigen with a tumor-specific driver mutation; and optionally expanding the numbers of isolated, tumor antigen-specific T cells; and (b) administering to the mammal (i) the isolated T cells of (a) and (ii) a vaccine which specifically stimulates an immune response against the tumor-specific antigen for which the isolated T cells have antigenic specificity.

Abstract: Polypeptides, proteins, and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically bind to human mesothelin582-598 (IP-NGYLVLDLSMQEALS) (SEQ ID NO: 1) are disclosed. Anti-mesothelin binding moieties, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and conjugates relating to the poly peptides, proteins, and CARS are disclosed. Methods of reducing mesothelin shed from cell membranes, methods of detecting the presence of cancer, and methods of treating or preventing cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are live, chimeric non-human Mononegavirales vectors that allow a cell to express at least one protein from at least one human pathogen. In addition, compositions comprising the vectors, methods and kits for eliciting an immune response in a host, and methods of making the vectors are disclosed, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising a first amphiphile and optionally a second amphiphile each having the formula S-[B]-[U]-H-[D] and at least one drug molecule is noncovalently associated with or covalently bonded directly or via a suitable linker X1 to the first amphiphile and/or to the optional second amphiphile. The composition is useful in treating a cancer, an infectious disease or an inflammatory disease.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance and ultrasound methods can produce estimates of full rank-4 elasticity tensors (E-tensors) using suitable constraints. E-tensor estimates can be based on E-tensor symmetry conditions and a suitable E-tensor selected from among a set of E-tensors calculated using different symmetry constraints. Displacement fields used in E-tensor calculations can be noise reduced using compatibility conditions. With the selected E-tensor, various stains that are rotation invariant can be computed. In one example. an E-tensor for an in vivo brain is computed using the mechanical disturbance associated with cardiac pulsations. The selected E-tensor and associated stains. physiological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and even neural activation may be more readily detected than with conventional methods that do not use the full E-tensor.

Abstract: The invention provides Brachyury deletion mutant polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, non-yeast vectors comprising the nucleic acids, non-yeast cells, and methods of use.

Abstract: Recombinant paramyxoviruses including a viral genome encoding a heterologous gene are provided. In several embodiments, the recombinant paramyxovirus is a recombinant parainfluenza virus, such as a recombinant PIV3 including a viral genome encoding a heterologous respiratory syncytial virus F ectodomain linked to the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail of the F protein from the PIV3. Nucleic acid molecules including the genome of a recombinant paramyxoviruses are also provided. The recombinant viruses may advantageously be used in vaccine formulations, such as for vaccines against parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.

Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of one or more strains of Chikungunya virus, as well as other alphavirus-mediated diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having antigenic specificity for CD70, the CAR comprising: an antigen binding-transmembrane domain comprising a CD27 amino acid sequence lacking all or a portion of the CD27 intracellular T cell signaling domain; a 4-1BB intracellular T cell signaling domain; a CD3? intracellular T cell signaling domain; and optionally, a CD28 intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for mutated human p53. Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method involving assessing the vitamin C renal leak status of a human subject, vitamin C renal leak being the clinically inappropriate presence of vitamin C in urine. The method comprises assaying for the concentration of vitamin C in a plasma sample and in collected urine output, whereby the presence of vitamin C in the collected urine output and a concentration of vitamin C in the plasma sample less than the Minimum Elimination Threshold (MET) indicates the presence of vitamin C renal leak. Vitamin C renal leak also can be quantified by determining the fractional excretion of vitamin C (FeVC), which is a measurement of the degree of urinary vitamin C excretion relative to plasma vitamin C concentration corrected by creatinine clearance. The invention also provides a test kit for assessing vitamin C renal leak and a test kit for assessing FeVC.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for mutated Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) presented in the context of an HLA-Cw*0802 molecule. Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.

Abstract: Provided herein are a Heartland virus vaccine composition including a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) including an open reading frame (ORF) encoding Gn or Gc of Heartland virus, a Heartland virus vaccine composition comprising a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) comprising an open reading frame (ORF) encoding Gn or Gc of Heartland virus fused with human collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) signal peptide, and a method of inducing immune response against Heartland virus by administering an effective amount of the Heartland virus vaccine composition to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: An in vitro release test (IVRT) method and system is provided for drug release testing. The IVRT method, referred to herein as adaptive perfusion, employ tangential-flow filtration (TFF), where released drug products that are smaller than a molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of a membrane filter pass therethrough into the permeate. Unreleased drug products are retained by the pores of the filter and are recirculated to a retentate reservoir. Fresh media is provided to the retentate in order to maintain a constant total volume for the sample as well as to maintain sink conditions for the drug release. Drug concentration in the retentate and permeate are evaluated by in situ monitoring with one or more sensors and/or by periodic removal of aliquots from the respective reservoirs. In some embodiments, the membrane filter can be conditioned prior to use in order to improve the accuracy, precision, or both of the subsequent testing.

Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides that are truncated modified recombinant forms of ADAMTS13, nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, drug delivery compositions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides and compositions (e.g., in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)).

Abstract: Vaccines that elicit broadly protective anti-influenza antibodies. The vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display HA trimers from Group 2 influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles are fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit (e.g., ferritin) joined to stabilized stem regions of Group 2 influenza virus HA proteins. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the HA-displaying nanoparticles. Also provided are fusion proteins, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, and assays using nanoparticles of the invention to detect anti-influenza antibodies.