Abstract: Methods and compositions of altering mitochondrial DNA of a eukaryotic cell are provided using one or more of a mitochondrial specific adeno-associated virus to deliver one or more nucleic acids encoding CRISPR system including a Cas9 protein or its nuclease inactive variant and a guide RNA into a mitochondria for expression within the mitochondria. The Cas9 system can cut, nick or regulate a target mitochondrial nucleic acid.

Abstract: A microbial oil is obtained from Labyrinthulomycetes in which a gene for fatty acid biosynthesis has been disrupted or an expression of the gene has been inhibited to highly accumulate the fatty acid. The microbial oil typically contains: (a) 1.5% or more of arachidonic acid (AA) based on a total amount of fatty acid; (b) 0.2% or more of dihomo-?-linolenic acid (DGLA) based on the total amount of fatty acid; (c) 0.04% or more of eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA) based on the total amount of fatty acid; (d) 3.8% or more of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) based on the total amount of fatty acid; (e) 13.7% or less of n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (n-6DPA) based on the total amount of fatty acid; and (f) 43.9% or less of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) based on the total amount of fatty acid.

Abstract: Polynucleotides such as DNA are stored inside vesicles formed from self-assembling membranes. The vesicles may be protocells, liposomes, micelles, colloidosomes, proteinosomes, or coacervates. The vesicles may include surface functionalization to improve polynucleotide encapsulation and/or to bind polynucleotides having specific sequences. Encapsulation in vesicles provides protection for the polynucleotides. Additional protection is provided by addition of one or more stabilizers. The stabilizer may be nucleic-acid stabilizers that stabilize the polynucleotides or may be a protective structural layer around the vesicles such as a layer of silica. A process for stably storing polynucleotides in vesicles and a process for recovering stored polynucleotides from vesicles are both disclosed. The polynucleotides may be used for storage of digital information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods for reducing or eliminating the thrombogenicity of a graft by modifying the graft with a cell-derived extracellular matrix lacking thrombospondin-2 (TSP2-null ECM) to render it non-thrombogenic when transplanted to a subject in need thereof. The invention also provides a method for improving the biocompatibility of a medical device or an implant by modifying the medical device or implant with a cell-derived TSP2-null ECM, whereby the medical device or implant is rendered non-thrombogenic and pro-migratory.

Abstract: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) antigen specific binding molecules, in particular T Cell Receptors (TCRs), TCR polypeptides and fragments thereof. The invention is also related to modified cells containing the TCRs, TCR polypeptides or fragments, pharmaceutical composition or kits including the same or methods of making or using the same as is described. In particular, the invention discloses TCRs or a fragments thereof, capable of binding to a peptide of a Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Env polypeptide presented by an MHC class I molecule comprising an MHC class I ?-chain encoded by an HLA-Cw*08 allele.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating ovarian cancer. Specifically, the invention relates to administering a genetically modified T cell having ?-folate receptor (FR?) binding domain and 4-1BB (CD137) costimulatory domain to treat ovarian cancer.

Abstract: Non-human animals comprising a human or humanized C3 and/or C5 nucleic acid sequence are provided as well as methods for using the same to identify compounds capable of modulating the complement system. Non-human animals that comprise a replacement of the endogenous C5 gene and/or C3 gene with a human or humanized C5 gene and/or C3 gene, and methods for making and using the non-human animals, are described. Non-human animals comprising a human or humanized C5 gene under control of non-human C5 regulatory elements is also provided, including non-human animals that have a replacement of non-human C5-encoding sequence with human C5-encoding sequence at an endogenous non-human C5 locus. Non-human animals comprising a human or humanized C3 gene under control of non-human C3 regulatory elements is also provided, including non-human animals that have a replacement of non-human C3 protein-encoding sequence with human or humanized C3 protein-encoding sequence at an endogenous non-human C3 locus.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides materials and methods for treating a patient with one or more conditions associated with SOD1 whether ex vivo or in vivo. In addition, the present disclosure provides materials and methods for editing and/or modulating the expression of SOD1 gene in a cell by genome editing.

Abstract: The invention relates in one aspect to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a nucleic acid delivery vehicle for delivering a deliverable nucleic acid into a bacterial cell, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises a deliverable nucleic acid packaged into one or more bacteriophage coat proteins, and wherein the delivery vehicle is capable of infecting the bacterial cell to introduce the deliverable nucleic acid into the cell, following which the deliverable nucleic acid is capable of forming a plasmid in the cell and being transmitted to one or more different bacterial cells by conjugation and not by infection. Compositions including a pharmaceutical composition comprising the delivery vehicle, and methods involving use or manufacture of the delivery vehicle, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention embraces a RNA replicon that can be replicated by a replicase of alphavirus origin. The RNA replicon comprises sequence elements required for replication by the replicase, but these sequence elements do not encode any protein or fragment thereof, such as an alphavirus non-structural protein or fragment thereof. Thus, in the RNA replicon according to the invention, sequence elements required for replication by the replicase and protein-coding region(s) are uncoupled. According to the present invention the uncoupling is achieved by the removal of at least one initiation codon compared to a native alphavirus genomic RNA. In particular, the RNA replicon comprises a 5? replication recognition sequence, wherein the 5? replication recognition sequence is characterized in that it comprises the removal of at least one initiation codon compared to a native alphavirus 5? replication recognition sequence.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to pharmaceutical compositions and preparations of circular polyribonucleotides and uses thereof.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a cartilage regenerative material that suppresses infiltration of fibrous soft tissue and brings about satisfactory cartilage regeneration, and a method for producing the cartilage regenerative material. Provided is a cartilage regenerative material including a porous body of a biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible polymer film, in which the porous body contains chondrocytes and cartilage matrix, and the cartilage matrix exists in a region of 10% or more of a region extending from the surface of the transplant face of the porous body to a depth of 150 ?m along the thickness.

Abstract: A biological composition intermixed with a polyampholyte protectant for direct implantation has a mixture of biologic material and a volume of polyampholyte protectant. The mixture of biologic material has non-whole cellular components including vesicular components and active and inactive components of biological activity, cell fragments, cellular excretions, cellular derivatives, and extracellular components, or whole cells or combinations of the non-whole cellular components and whole cells, wherein the mixture is compatible with biologic function. The volume of polyampholyte protectant is intermixed with the mixture of biologic material, wherein the polyampholyte protectant is a liquid of a polyamine polymer compound of carboxylated poly-lysine and wherein the polyampholyte protectant forms a three-dimensional bonding shroud externally enveloping each of the non-whole cellular components, if any, and each of the whole cells, if any, of the mixture of biologic material.

Abstract: The invention provides culture platforms, cell media, and methods of differentiating pluripotent cells into hematopoietic cells. The invention further provides pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cells generated using the culture platforms and methods disclosed herein, which enable feed-free, monolayer culturing and in the absence of EB formation. Specifically, pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cell of this invention include, and not limited to, iHSC, definitive hemogenic endothelium, hematopoietic multipotent progenitors, T cell progenitors, NK cell progenitors, T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and B cells.

Abstract: The invention provides culture platforms, cell media, and methods of differentiating pluripotent cells into hematopoietic cells. The invention further provides pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cells generated using the culture platforms and methods disclosed herein, which enable feed-free, monolayer culturing and in the absence of EB formation. Specifically, pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cell of this invention include, and not limited to, iHSC, definitive hemogenic endothelium, hematopoietic multipotent progenitors, T cell progenitors, NK cell progenitors, T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and B cells.

Abstract: A biological system for generating and preserving a repository of personalized, humanized transplantable cells, tissues, and organs for transplantation, wherein the biological system is biologically active and metabolically active, the biological system having genetically reprogrammed cells, tissues, and organs in a non-human animal for transplantation into a human recipient, wherein the non-human animal does not present one or more surface glycan epitopes and specific sequences from the wild-type swine's SLA is replaced with a synthetic nucleotides based on a human captured reference sequence from a human recipient's HLA.

Abstract: Provided are a small molecule compound combination for reprogramming digestive tract derived epithelial cells to endodermal stem/progenitor cells, a reprogramming method and an application. Human gastric epithelial cells (hGECs) are used as initiating cells, human gastric subepithelial myofibroblasts (aGSEMFs) are used as a trophoblast, a compound combination having all or a plurality of FBP, Bay K 8644, Bix01294, SB431542 or A813-01, VPA, RG108, PD0325901 and PS48 including SB or A83 is used to reprogram digestive tract derived epithelial cells to endodermal stem/progenitor cells, and the endodermal stem/progenitor cells can be used for inducing differentiation towards liver cells, pancreatic beta cells and intestinal cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to erythroid cells that have been engineered to include, e.g., at the surface of the cell, one or more exogenous stimulatory polypeptides, wherein the exogenous stimulatory polypeptides presented are sufficient to stimulate an immune killer cell. The engineered enucleated cells of the present disclosure are useful in methods of activating NK cells and/or CD8+T-cells in a subject in need thereof, such as subjects having cancer or an infectious disease, and in particular cancers or infectious diseases characterized by downregulation of MHC Class I presentation.

Abstract: The present invention features compositions and methods for editing deleterious mutations associated with hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease (SCD). In particular embodiments, the invention provides methods for correcting mutations in a beta globin polynucleotide using modified adenosine base editors termed “ABE8” having unprecedented levels (e.g., >60-70%) of efficiency.

Abstract: A method of treating a neurological disease (such as autism) in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of microparticles derived from mesenchymal stem cells.