Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions of engineered oncolytic viruses for administration to a subject with cancer that specifically lyse tumor cells and actively target tumor cells and cell debris to antigen presenting cells, in order to generate anti-tumor immunity.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for effective delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) to the central system (CNS). In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for administering intrathecally to a subject in need of delivery a composition comprising an mRNA encoding a protein, encapsulated within a liposome, such that the administering of the composition results in the intracellular delivery of mRNA in neurons in the brain and/or spinal cord. The present invention is particularly useful for the treatment of CNS diseases, disorders or conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy.

Abstract: Disclosed are cell membrane-derived nanovesicles, a method of preparing the nanovesicles, and a pharmaceutical composition and a diagnostic kit using the nanovesicles. The cell membrane-derived nanovesicles may prevent potential adverse effects because intracellular materials (e.g., genetic materials and cytosolic proteins) unnecessary for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic substances are removed from the nanovesicles. In addition, as the nanovesicles may be targeted to specific cells or tissues, therapeutic or diagnostic substances may be predominantly delivered to the targeted cells or tissues, while delivery of the substances may be inhibited. Therefore, the nanovesicles may alleviate suffering and inconvenience of patients by reducing adverse effects of therapeutic substances and by improving efficacy of the substances.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides distinct therapeutic populations of cells that form a pharmaceutical composition useful in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplant. For example, the present disclosure provides a therapeutic population of cells, comprising an enriched population of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, memory T cells, regulatory T cells, and wherein the population of cells is depleted of naïve conventional ??-T cells. The present disclosure further provides methods of treatment using the therapeutic population of cells. In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of producing a therapeutic population of cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides soluble truncated mutant programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) peptides. Polynucleotides and vectors encoding the soluble truncated mutant PD-L1 peptides are also provided. Further, methods of using the soluble truncated mutant peptides to promote differentiation of CD4+ effector T (Th1) cells into Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining stable pseudotyped lentiviral particles including a heterologous gene of interest, comprising the following steps: a) transfecting at least one plasmid in appropriate cell lines, wherein said at least one plasmid comprises the gene of interest, the rev. gag and pol genes, and a sequence coding for an ERV syncytin, wherein the rev, gag and pol genes are retroviral genes; b) incubating the transfected cells obtained in a), so that they produce the stable pseudotyped lentiviral particles in the supernatant; and c) harvesting and concentrating the stable lentiviral particles obtained in b). The present invention also relates to a method to transduce immune cells using lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with an ERV syncytin glycoprotein. The method can be performed on non-stimulated blood cells or on cells stimulated briefly with IL7, and the cells can be expanded. The stable pseudotyped lentiviral particles obtained are particularly useful in gene therapy.

Abstract: The present application relates to sequences that enhance permeation of immunotherapy agents across the blood brain barrier (BBB), compositions comprising the sequences, and methods of use thereof to treat brain cancer, e.g., glioblastoma (GBM). Further disclosed are a number of potential targeting peptide sequences identified that enhance permeation through the BBB, when inserted into the capsid of an adeno-associated virus (AAV).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for enhanced expression of exogenous genes in eukaryotic cells. The method involves introducing into a mammalian cell an exogenous nucleic acid. wherein the exogenous nucleic acid intearates into a locus of the genome that comprises an extended methylation-free CpG island. Also provided are chromosomal loci, sequences for enhanced and stable expression of exogenous genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of a neurological disease or disorder of the central nervous system (e.g., a storage disorder, lysosomal storage disorder, neurodegenerative disease, etc.) by reconstitution of brain myeloid cell and microglia upon transplantation of hematopoietic cells enriched in microglia reconstitution potential. The invention also provides compositions and methods for ablating and reconstituting microglia.

Abstract: The invention relates to retrieving or modifying target nucleic acids, such as host cell chromosomal DNA, by homologous recombination with vectors that have been cut to provide recombinogenic nucleic acid strands in situ. In some aspects, a marker sequence is created by the method of the invention, wherein the marker sequence is in the product of the method but not present in the starting nucleic acid strands of the method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the composition of one or more agents, therapies, treatments, and methods of use of the agents and/or therapies and/or treatments for upregulating production of lactoferrin or a sub-peptide of lactoferrin. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as a therapy or a treatment of adhesions or scarring.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, and devices for the treatment and prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) using gene therapy techniques. In particular, oxidative stress (OS) and parasympathetic nervous system signaling are inhibited to prevent and/or reverse the electrical remodeling that underlies AF.

Abstract: Disclosed are adeno-associated viral vectors and plasmids encoding the same. Also disclosed are methods of using adeno-associated viral vectors to deliver a protein of interest to the subject. The disclosed vectors have phenotypes including but not limited to increased retention in the blood of a subject, avoidance of the liver, and transduction of the brain and other tissues.

Abstract: Nucleic acid-guided nuclease editing in mammalian cells may include passaging mammalian cells, in an automated closed cell editing instrument, into smaller aggregates when the aggregates exceed 50-300 microns in size. A library of viral particles may be delivered to the mammalian cells at a multiplicity of infection such that each mammalian cell receives one or no viral particle. The library may include viral vectors with an editing cassette including a pair of gRNA coding sequence and donor DNA. Conditions may be provided to allow a viral vector of the viral vectors to integrate into the mammalian cells. Enriching for mammalian cells may be done with an integrated viral vector. A nucleic acid-guided nuclease or nuclease fusion or a coding sequence for a nucleic acid-guided nuclease or nuclease fusion may be delivered to the enriched mammalian cells and conditions may be provided to allow editing in the mammalian cells.

Abstract: Methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs comprise a vector for making circular RNA, the vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a.) a 5? homology arm, b.) a 3? group I intron fragment containing a 3? splice site dinucleotide, c.) optionally, a 5? spacer sequence, d.) a protein coding or noncoding region, e.) optionally, a 3? spacer sequence, f) a 5? Group I intron fragment containing a 5? splice site dinucleotide, and g.) a 3? homology arm, the vector allowing production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. Methods for purifying the circular RNA produced by the vector and the use of nucleoside modifications in circular RNA produced by the vector are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating an eye disorder, for example cone-rod dystrophy type 6 (CORD6). In certain aspects, a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising nucleic acids is administered to a subject to treat an autosomal dominant disorder or condition, such as a condition associated with a dominant mutation in a guanylate cyclase 2D (GUCY2D) gene, such as knocking out a dominant mutant form of the gene in the subject. Further provided herein are recombinant AAV particles that comprise one or more recombinant AAV genomes comprising nucleic acids that encode a guide RNA that targets a GUCY2D gene and/or an RNA-guided endonuclease.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an isolated recombinant oncolytic adenovirus, a pharmaceutical composition, and uses thereof for drugs for treatment of tumors and/or cancers. The recombinant oncolytic adenovirus is a selectively replicating oncolytic adenovirus, and the genome of the recombinant oncolytic adenovirus is integrated with a coding sequence of exogenous shRNA capable of inhibiting PDL1 expression in tumor cells. The replication capability of the virus in normal primary cells is much lower than the replication capability of the virus in tumor cells. Moreover, the expressed shPDL1 can significantly reduce the level of PDL1 protein highly expressed in tumor cells. Thus, the oncolytic killing effect of the oncolytic virus and the anti-tumor immunostimulatory effect of immune cells produce a synergistic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2A (CMT2A) harboring the p.Arg364Trp or p.His361Tyr Mfn2 mutation, whose human counterpart results in severe, early-onset axonal neuropathy for p.Arg364Trp Mfn2 mutation in fertilized rat eggs. Cohorts of mutants and wild type littermates were characterized with multiple motor deficits that worsened over time. Separate cohorts of mutant and wild type at 7, 40, and 48 weeks showed reduced density of myelinated axons and active axonal degeneration in distal but not proximal nerves, as well as axonal degeneration in the fasciculus gracilis of the cervical spinal cord at 40 and 48 weeks not present in 7-week-old cohort Mfn2 mutants, or wild type at 7 or 40 weeks. The p.His361Tyr Mfn2 mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 showed abnormalities in gait dynamics at 8 weeks and lengthening of gait cycle at 16 weeks. The invention provides progressive axonal neuropathy for examining pathogenesis and treatment of CMT2A.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides variant light-responsive polypeptides, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the light-responsive polypeptides. The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for controlling the activity of a cell expressing a variant light-responsive polypeptide of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treatment of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBDs). More particularly, recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) provided in the form of compositions are used to deliver a nucleic acid encoding human PEX1 to host cells. The rAAVs comprise a AAV capsid, and packaged therein a vector genome comprising an AAV 5? inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequence; a promoter; a coding sequence encoding a human PEX1; and an AAV 3? ITR.