Abstract: Metapneumovirus (MPV) F proteins stabilized in a prefusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the MPV F proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to MPV in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the MPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing MPV infection.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the RSV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the RSV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant RSV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising an antigen binding domain of human antibody 139, an extracellular hinge domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain T cell receptor signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a host and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a host are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is the design and construction of a class of lipoprotein targeting protease inhibitors. Small peptides with protease inhibitor activity are conjugated to hydrophobic, lipoprotein targeting molecules using, for instance, amine reactive chemistry. Methods of use of the resultant lipoprotein targeting protease inhibitor (antiprotease) molecules are also described. Also described is the production and use of protease inhibitor enriched HDL particles, as well as A1AT-peptide-enriched HDL particles, and their use in various therapeutic contexts.

Abstract: The disclosure provides immunogen polypeptides comprising fragments of VAR2CSA protein expressed by P. falciparum. Aspects of the disclosed immunogen polypeptides comprise all or portions of the CSA binding regions of VAR2CSA as identified by a structural study of VAR2CSA conducted by the inventors. Also provided are compositions comprising such immunogen polypeptides, and methods of using the immunogen polypeptides for vaccination and treatment of disease.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to isolated influenza virus that is capable of infecting canids and causing respiratory disease in the canid. The subject invention also pertains to compositions and methods for inducing an immune response against an influenza virus of the present invention. The subject invention also pertains to compositions and methods for identifying a virus of the invention and diagnosing infection of an animal with a virus of the invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of an intracellular bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising one or more modulating agents, wherein the one or more modulating agents increase expression of IFN?, IL-2, TNF, and/or IL-17 in systemic and/or lung T cells. In some embodiments, the increase of expression of IFN?, IL-2, TNF, and/or IL-17 occurs in lung T cells. The lung T cells can be lung resident T cells or systemic T cells that are recruited to the lung. In some embodiments, the T cells are CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells. In some embodiments, the intracellular bacterial infection is a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of knotted cyclic peptides. Related pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the peptides and methods of synthesizing the peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and MRI systems that reduce artifacts produced by Maxwell gradient terms in TSE imaging using non-rectilinear trajectories are disclosed. With this technology, a RF excitation pulse is generated to produce transverse magnetization that generates a NMR signal and a series of RF refocusing pulses to produce a corresponding series of NMR spin-echo signals. An original encoding gradient waveform comprising a non-rectilinear trajectory is modified by adjusting a portion of the original encoding gradient waveform or introducing a zero zeroth-moment waveform segment at end(s) of the original encoding gradient waveform. During an interval adjacent to each of the series of RF refocusing pulses a first gradient pulse is generated. At least one of the first gradient pulses is generated according to the modified gradient waveform. An image is constructed from generated digitized samples of the NMR spin-echo signals obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are powered gait assistance systems that include a controller, sensors, and a torque applicator (motor, spring, etc.) coupled to a patient's hips, thighs, knee, lower leg, ankle, and/or foot and operable to apply assistive torque to the patient's leg joint(s) to assist the patient's volitional joint actuating muscle output during selected stages of the patient's gait cycle, such that the applied torque improves the patient's leg posture, muscle output, range of motion, and/or other parameters over the gait cycle. The sensors can include a torque sensor that measures torque applied, one or more joint angle sensors, a ground contact sensor that measures ground contact of the patient's foot, and/or other sensors. The controller can determine what stage of the patient's gait cycle the patient's leg is in based on sensor signals and cause the torque applicator to apply corresponding torque to the joint(s) based on the gait cycle stage, sensor inputs, and known patient characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of compounds and compositions for the treatment or prevention of Flavivirus infections, such as dengue virus infections and Zika virus infections. Aspects of the invention include methods for treating or preventing Flavivirus virus infection, such as dengue virus and Zika virus infection, by administering a compound or composition of the invention, to a subject in need thereof; methods for inhibiting Flavivirus infections, such as dengue virus and Zika virus infections, in a cell in vitro or in vivo; pharmaceutical compositions; packaged dosage formulations; and kits useful for treating or preventing Flavivirus infections, such as dengue virus and Zika virus infections.

Abstract: Polypeptides and proteins that specifically bind to and immunologically recognize CD276 are disclosed. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), anti-CD276 binding moieties, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and conjugates relating to the polypeptides and proteins are also disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of (a) cancer or (b) tumor vasculature in a mammal and methods of (a) treating or preventing cancer or (b) reducing tumor vasculature in a mammal are also disclosed.

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: Embodiments of a recombinant human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the hPIV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the hPIV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or inhibiting a hPIV infection in a subject by administering a effective amount of the recombinant hPIV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: The present Disclosure is directed to methods for inhibiting or suppressing metastasis of a tumor in a mammalian subject using a cysteamine product, e.g., cysteamine or cystamine or a derivative thereof. Also described herein is a method for treating pancreatic cancer in a mammalian subject by administering a cysteamine product described herein.

Abstract: Multi-dimensional spectra associated with a specimen are reconstructed using lower dimensional spectra as constraints. For example, a two-dimensional spectrum associated with diffusivity and spin-lattice relaxation time is obtained using one-dimensional spectra associated with diffusivity and spin-lattice relaxation time, respectively, as constraints. Data for a full two dimensional spectrum are not acquired, leading to significantly reduced data acquisition times.

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: The invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for TSLPR, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Isolated peptides comprising one or more antigenic sites of filovirus glycoprotein and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also provided. In several embodiments, the peptides can be used to induce an immune response to filovirus glycoprotein, such as Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein, in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent infection of the subject with the virus.

Abstract: Isotropic generalized diffusion tensor imaging methods and apparatus are configured to obtain signal attenuations using selected sets of applied magnetic field gradient directions whose averages produce mean apparent diffusion constants (mADCs) over a wide range of b-values, associated with higher order diffusion tensors (HOT). These sets are selected based on analytical descriptions of isotropic HOTs and the associated averaged signal attenuations are combined to produce mADCs, or probability density functions of intravoxel mADC distributions. Estimates of biologically-specific rotation-invariant parameters for quantifying tissue water mobilities or other tissue characteristics can be obtained such as Traces of HOTs associated with diffusion and mean t-kurtosis.