Abstract: The present disclosure provides T cell modulatory polypeptide-epitope conjugates (T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates) comprising a chemical conjugation site at which a coronavirus peptide epitope is covalently attached and at least one immunomodulatory polypeptide sequence. The T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates are useful for modulating the activity (e.g., increasing proliferation or cytotoxic activity) of T-cells specific to the coronavirus peptide epitope in an epitope selective/specific manner, and accordingly, for treating individuals with a coronavirus infection including long COVID. Alternatively, when the T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugate is redirected to a neoplastic cell by a targeting sequence, the redirected T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugate may be used to treat neoplasms including various cancers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides modified cytotoxic T cells (mCTLs), where the mCTLs comprise: a) one or more nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding a T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for MHC class I polypeptides that present a human papilloma virus (HPV) E7 peptide comprising the amino acid sequence YMLDLQPETT (SEQ ID NO:1) or YMLDLQPET (SEQ ID NO:2); and b) one or more nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), where the CAR comprises an antigen-binding domain specific for a cancer-associated antigen. The present disclosure provides methods of producing the mCTLs. The present disclosure provides methods of treating cancer, comprising administering the mCTLs to an individual in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T cell modulatory polypeptide-epitope conjugates (T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates) comprising a chemical conjugation site at which an NY-ESO (e.g., NY-ESO-1 or NY-ESO-2) or a MAGE (e.g., MAGEA4) peptide epitope is covalently attached and at least one immunomodulatory polypeptide sequence that may be variant selected to exhibit reduced binding affinity to its cognate co-immunomodulatory polypeptide. The T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates are useful for modulating the activity (e.g., increasing proliferation or cytotoxic activity) of T-cells specific to the NY-ESO or MAGE peptide epitope in an epitope selective/specific manner, and accordingly, for treating individuals with, for example, cancers expressing the covalently attached epitope. The disclosure also provides T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates with targeting sequences that can server to, among other things, localize the T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugates to a specific tissue or cell type.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immune cell binding polypeptides (ICBPs) that include a binding moiety that can bind to ILT2 and/or ILT4 polypeptides, at least one immunoinhibitory polypeptide, and a scaffold polypeptide. The ICBPs are useful for inducing immunological tolerance. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing immunological tolerance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a single-chain T-cell engaging polypeptide (TEP) comprising a peptide epitope, class I major histocompatibility complex polypeptides, one or more immunomodulatory polypeptides, an immunoglobulin Fc polypeptide or a non-immunoglobulin scaffold polypeptide, and a tumor-targeting polypeptide. The present disclosure provides methods of treating cancer, comprising administering the TEP to an individual in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides (TMMPs) that comprise (i) an optional immunomodulatory polypeptide such as a variant IL-2 polypeptide, (ii) class I HLA major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polypeptides (a class I HLA heavy chain polypeptide and a ?2 microglobulin polypeptide), (iii) a peptide that presents an epitope to a T-cell receptor, which together with the class I MHC polypeptides forms a peptide-MHC complex (pMHC), (iv) a tumor-targeting polypeptide, and (v) an optional Ig Fc polypeptide or other scaffold. Such TMMP is useful for modulating the activity of a T cell, and for modulating an immune response in an individual, and for “redirecting” a patient's repertoire of antiviral T cells to attack and kill cancer cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T cell modulatory polypeptides (T-Cell-MPs) comprising a chemical conjugation site at which a KRAS epitope has been conjugated and at least one immunomodulatory polypeptide sequence that may be selected to exhibit reduced binding affinity to its cognate co-immunomodulatory polypeptide. The T-Cell-epitope conjugates are useful for modulating (e.g., increasing proliferation or cytotoxic activity) the activity of T cells specific to the conjugate epitope, and accordingly for use as therapeutics. The T-Cell-epitope conjugates find use in treating a variety of cancers associated with KRAS.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides (TMMPs) that comprise an immunomodulatory polypeptide, class I HLA polypeptides (a class I HLA heavy chain polypeptide and a ?2 microglobulin polypeptide), a peptide that presents an epitope to a T-cell receptor, and a tumor-targeting polypeptide. A TMMP is useful for modulating the activity of a T cell, and for modulating an immune response in an individual.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-?) polypeptide constructs and complexes that find use in, for example, therapeutic treatment of diseases including autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases and disorders. Also described are nucleic acids that encode the constructs and complexes and methods of preparing the constructs and complexes in cell-based expression systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T cell modulatory polypeptides (TMPs) that comprise an immunomodulatory polypeptide, class I HLA polypeptides (a class I HLA heavy chain polypeptide and a ?2 microglobulin polypeptide), and a Betacoronavirus (e.g., a SARS-CoV-2) peptide that presents an epitope to a T-cell receptor. A TMP is useful for modulating the activity of a T cell, and for modulating an immune response in an individual.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T cell modulatory polypeptides (T-Cell-MPs) comprising a chemical conjugation site and at least one immunomodulatory polypeptide sequence that may be selected to exhibit reduced binding affinity to its cognate co-immunomodulatory polypeptide. The unconjugated T-Cell-MPs may be conjugated to a molecule displaying an epitope to form a T-Cell-MP-epitope conjugate. The T-Cell-epitope conjugates are useful for modulating the activity (e.g., increasing proliferation or cytotoxic activity) of T cells specific to the conjugate epitope, and accordingly for use as therapeutics.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides (T-Cell-MMPs) conjugated to a coronavirus epitope and comprising at least one immunomodulatory polypeptide (“MOD”) that may be selected to exhibit reduced binding affinity to a cognate co-immunomodulatory polypeptide (“Co-MOD”). By presenting the coronavirus epitope and MOD to a T-cell, the T-Cell-MMP-coronavirus epitope conjugates are useful for modulating the activity (e.g., increasing proliferation or cytotoxic activity) of T-cells specific to the coronavirus peptide in an epitope selective/specific manner, and accordingly, for treating individuals with a coronavirus infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a chimeric molecule comprising: a) a T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptide (TMMP); and b) a nucleic acid component, where the nucleic acid component comprises a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an antibody that binds a cancer-associated antigen. The TMMP binds to and activates a target T cell; the nucleic acid component is taken up by the target T cell such that the target T cell expresses the CAR on its surface. The present disclosure provides methods of making the chimeric molecule. The present disclosure provides treatment methods comprising administering the chimeric molecule.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides in vitro modified cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) that comprise: a) a T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for a preselected antigen in a human; and b) a nucleic acid(s) encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific for a cancer-associated antigen. The present disclosure provides methods of producing the modified CTLs. The present disclosure provides of treating cancer, comprising administering the modified CTLs to an individual in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonistic antibodies specifically binding CD154, polynucleotides encoding the antibodies or fragments, and methods of making and using the foregoing.

Abstract: Antibody polypeptides that specifically bind human CD40L are provided. The antibody polypeptides do not activate platelets. The antibody polypeptides are useful in the treatment of diseases involving CD40L activation, such as graft-related diseases and autoimmune diseases. The antibody polypeptides may be domain antibodies (dAbs) comprising a single VH or VK domain. The half-life of the antibody polypeptides may be increased by modifying the antibody polypeptides to be dual specific reagents that can also bind human serum albumin (HSA) or another antigen.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides that comprise an immunomodulatory polypeptide, an epitope-presenting peptide, and class I MHC polypeptides. A T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptide is useful for modulating the activity of a T cell, and for modulating an immune response in an individual.

Abstract: Antibody polypeptides that specifically bind human CD40L are provided. The antibody polypeptides do not activate platelets. The antibody polypeptides are useful in the treatment of diseases involving CD40L activation, such as graft-related diseases and autoimmune diseases. The antibody polypeptides may be domain antibodies (dAbs) comprising a single VH or VK domain. The half-life of the antibody polypeptides may be increased by modifying the antibody polypeptides to be dual specific reagents that can also bind human serum albumin (HSA) or another antigen.

Abstract: Antibody polypeptides that specifically bind a novel epitope of human CD40 are provided. The antibody polypeptides do not exhibit CD40 agonist activity. The antibody polypeptides are useful in the treatment of diseases involving CD40 activation, such as autoimmune diseases. The antibody polypeptides may be domain antibodies (dAbs) comprising a single VL or VH domain. The half-life of the antibody polypeptides may be increased by modifying the antibody polypeptides to be dual specific reagents that can also bind human serum albumin (HSA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonistic antibodies specifically binding CD154, polynucleotides encoding the antibodies or fragments, and methods of making and using the foregoing.