Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising: a stably integrating delivery vector; a modified mammalian thymidylate kinase (tmpk) wherein the modified mammalian tmpk increases phosphorylation of a prodrug relative to phosophorylation of the prodrug by wild-type human tmpk. The invention also relates to use of these compositions in methods of treatment of diseases such as graft versus host disease and cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising: a stably integrating delivery vector; a modified mammalian thymidylate kinase (tmpk) wherein the modified mammalian tmpk increases phosphorylation of a prodrug relative to phosphorylation of the prodrug by wild-type human tmpk. The invention also relates to use of these compositions in methods of treatment of diseaseuuius such as graft versus host disease and cancer.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a population of CD8+ Tc1 and/or Tc2 lymphocytes ex vivo. The method includes stimulating a population of T cells obtained from a subject by contacting the population with an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and an antibody that specifically binds to a T cell costimulatory molecule in the presence of a Tc1 or Tc2 supportive environment to form a stimulated population of T cells. The stimulated population of CD8+ T cells is allowed to proliferate in a Tc1 or Tc2 supportive environment. Purified populations of Tc1 and Tc2 cells are disclosed herein, as are methods for their use.