Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, oligonucleotides, kits, and methods useful for increasing lentiviral titers.

Abstract: Described herein is an approach for targeting multiple critical checkpoint genes involved in T cell exhaustion, for example, PD-1, TIM3, and LAG-3 in a manner that allows knock-down of their expression in T cells that also express a T cell receptor targeted to cancer cells, e.g., a CAR targeted to a cancer antigen or a T cell receptor (TCR).

Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, oligonucleotides, kits, and methods useful for increasing lentiviral titers.

Abstract: MicroRNAs embedded within an intron, which are called ‘mirtrons,’ can be used as a platform for expressing one or more shRNA or miRNA mimics in a lentiviral vector. The inventors developed a strategy to improve lentiviral titering by reducing the production of shRNA/miRNA from the vector during packaging through the introduction of splice-inhibiting antisense oligonucleotides during vector packaging, which inhibit the splicing of the mirtron and subsequent processing of the shRNAs/miRNAs. In an aspect is provided a kit comprising an oligonucleotide comprising a mirtron splice site binding sequence and a lentiviral packaging system. In an aspect is provided a method for producing a lentivirus. The method comprises the step of transfecting a cell with an oligonucleotide comprising a mirtron splice site binding sequence and a lentiviral packaging system; thereby producing the lentivirus.

Abstract: MicroRNAs embedded within an intron, which are called ‘mirtrons,’ can be used as a platform for expressing one or more shRNA or miRNA mimics in a lentiviral vector. The inventors developed a strategy to improve lentiviral titering by reducing the production of shRNA/miRNA from the vector during packaging through the introduction of splice-inhibiting antisense oligonucleotides during vector packaging, which inhibit the splicing of the mirtron and subsequent processing of the shRNAs/miRNAs. In an aspect is provided a kit comprising an oligonucleotide comprising a mirtron splice site binding sequence and a lentiviral packaging system. In an aspect is provided a method for producing a lentivirus. The method comprises the step of transfecting a cell with an oligonucleotide comprising a mirtron splice site binding sequence and a lentiviral packaging system; thereby producing the lentivirus.