Abstract: A composition for use in amplifying cDNA synthesized by a reverse transcription reaction and detecting RNA that serves as a template of the reverse transcription reaction, the composition containing a thermostable DNA polymerase, a thermostable ribonuclease H, and an intercalating dye. Since the composition of the present invention can suppress the influences to the nucleic acid amplification reaction by RNA that serves as a template for cDNA synthesis, the composition is useful in the detection of RNA, and more useful in quantification of RNA having a desired sequence by real-time RT-PCR.

Abstract: A nucleic acid comprising a transcription regulation sequence whose transcription is induced by a trans-acting factor of a human immunodeficiency virus and a gene encoding a polypeptide having an endoribonuclease activity specific to single-stranded RNA, wherein the gene is located in such a position that the expression of the gene can be regulated by the transcription regulation sequence; a method for production of a cell showing an inhibited replication of a human immunodeficiency virus therein, the method comprising the step of introducing the nucleic acid into a cell; and a method for treatment or prevention of a human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the function of a T cell, which is characterized by inhibiting the expression of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the T cell. Also disclosed is a function-enhanced T cell which is produced by the function enhancement method. Further disclosed is a therapeutic agent comprising the function-enhanced T cell. The T cell can enhance an immune response to cancer, and is useful in an immunotherapy effective for cancer and the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides cold shock protein-containing compositions for improved DNA synthesis reactions with improved reactivity, methods for synthesizing DNA using such compositions, kits for use in such methods, and DNA compositions yielded by such methods. The present invention further provides cold shock protein-containing compositions for the identification of endoribonuclease cleavage sites, methods for identifying endoribonuclease cleavage sites using such compositions, and kits for use in such methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell which can express a non-natural oligomeric protein, which has, introduced therein, a gene encoding an exogenous polypeptide corresponding to at least one endogenous polypeptide constituting a natural oligomeric protein, and in which the expression of the endogenous polypeptide is inhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the function of a T cell, which is characterized by inhibiting the expression of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the T cell. Also disclosed is a function-enhanced T cell which is produced by the function enhancement method. Further disclosed is a therapeutic agent comprising the function-enhanced T cell. The T cell can enhance an immune response to cancer, and is useful in an immunotherapy effective for cancer and the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for production of a cell population containing a pluripotent stem cell, said method comprising a step of treating a somatic cell which has been contacted with nuclear reprogramming factors under nutrient-starved condition, and/or a step of treating the somatic cell with an agent capable of arresting cell cycle. The present invention allows induction and growth of pluripotent stem cells at high frequency, and it also allows production of pluripotent stem cells with high efficiency. The nuclear reprogramming factors to be used may be any selected from the group consisting of OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, KLF4, NANOG and LIN28.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the function of a T cell, which is characterized by inhibiting the expression of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and/or programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the T cell. Also disclosed is a function-enhanced T cell which is produced by the function enhancement method. Further disclosed is a therapeutic agent comprising the function-enhanced T cell. The T cell can enhance an immune response to cancer, and is useful in an immunotherapy effective for cancer and the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a cell capable of expressing an exogenous GITRL or an exogenous GITRL derivative; a method for producing the cell; a therapeutic or prophylactic agent comprising the cell as an active ingredient; use of the cell in the manufacture of a therapeutic or prophylactic agent; a method comprising a step of administering the cell to a subject; a viral vector carrying a gene encoding a GITRL or a GITRL derivative; a therapeutic or prophylactic agent comprising the viral vector as an active ingredient; use of the viral vector in the manufacture of a therapeutic or prophylactic agent; and a method comprising a step of administering the viral vector to a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell which can express a non-natural oligomeric protein, which has, introduced therein, a gene encoding an exogenous polypeptide corresponding to at least one endogenous polypeptide constituting a natural oligomeric protein, and in which the expression of the endogenous polypeptide is inhibited.

Abstract: The N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity is enhanced in a cell carrying retrovirus-origin gag-pol gene and env gene. By constructing a retrovirus vector with the use of the above cell, a retrovirus vector having a modified sugar chain structure can be obtained. The retrovirus vector constructed by this method shows a high infection efficiency particularly in the presence of a functional substance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell which can express a non-natural oligomeric protein, which has, introduced therein, a gene encoding an exogenous polypeptide corresponding to at least one endogenous polypeptide constituting a natural oligomeric protein, and in which the expression of the endogenous polypeptide is inhibited.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a cytotoxic lymphocyte characterized in that the method comprises the step of carrying out at least one of induction, maintenance and expansion of a cytotoxic lymphocyte in the presence of fibronectin, a fragment thereof or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A nucleic acid comprising a transcription regulation sequence whose transcription is induced by a trans-acting factor of a human immunodeficiency virus and a gene encoding a polypeptide having an endoribonuclease activity specific to single-stranded RNA, wherein the gene is located in such a position that the expression of the gene can be regulated by the transcription regulation sequence; a method for production of a cell showing an inhibited replication of a human immunodeficiency virus therein, the method comprising the step of introducing the nucleic acid into a cell; and a method for treatment or prevention of a human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a cytotoxic lymphocyte characterized in that the method comprises the step of carrying out at least one step selected from induction, maintenance and expansion of a cytotoxic lymphocyte using a medium containing serum and plasma at a total concentration of 0% by volume or more and less than 5% by volume, in the presence of fibronectin, a fragment thereof or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A nucleic acid comprising a transcription regulation sequence whose transcription is induced by a trans-acting factor of a human immunodeficiency virus and a gene encoding a polypeptide having an endoribonuclease activity specific to single-stranded RNA, wherein the gene is located in such a position that the expression of the gene can be regulated by the transcription regulation sequence; a method for production of a cell showing an inhibited replication of a human immunodeficiency virus therein, the method comprising the step of introducing the nucleic acid into a cell; and a method for treatment or prevention of a human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract: A method of retrovirus storage, characterized in that a retrovirus is sustained in the presence of a substance with retrovirus binding activity immobilized on a solid phase. Further, there is provided a retrovirus composition characterized in that a retrovirus in the form of binding to a substance with retrovirus binding activity is sealed in a container holding a solid phase having the substance with retrovirus binding activity immobilized thereon.

Abstract: A method for transferring a gene into a fat cell or progenitor fat cell comprising the step of infecting the fat cell or progenitor cell with a retrovirus vector having a foreign gene in the presence of a substance having both of a retrovirus-binding site and a target cell-binding site in the molecule or a mixture of a substance having a retrovirus-binding site and a substance having a target cell-binding site, the target cell-binding site having a region that can bind to VLA-5 and/or a region that can bind to VLA-4.

Abstract: A method for preparing lymphocytes characterized in that the method comprises the step of carrying out expansion in the presence of (a) fibronectin, a fragment thereof or a mixture thereof, (b) a CD3 ligand, and (c) a CD28 ligand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroviral vector containing a transcription unit comprising a transcription regulatory sequence and a gene encoding a polypeptide having single-stranded RNA-specific endoribonuclease activity which is placed so that its expression can be controlled by the regulatory sequence, wherein the unit is placed so that the direction of the transcription of mRNA from the unit is opposite to the direction of transcription of the RNA genome of the retroviral vector. By using the vector constructed as described above, viral supernatant showing high gene transfer efficiency can be prepared. The retroviral vector of the present invention is useful for the treatment and/or prevention of cancers and virus infections.