Abstract: Disclosed herein are CMV-specific CARs. In some embodiments. the present invention is directed to a method of treating, reducing, or inhibiting an infection by a cytomegalovirus in a subject, which comprises administering to the subject (a) an expression vector that encodes a CMV-specific CAR as described herein, or (b) one or more cells that are transduced with the expression vector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are major vault proteins having modified R8 flexible regions, vault particles comprising major vault proteins having modified R8 flexible regions, and methods of packaging passenger polypeptides in the modified R8 flexible regions.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes nanocomplexes that are designed include enzymes that have complementary functional attributes and methods for using these nanocomplexes. Illustrative examples include nanocomplexes that comprise both an alcohol oxidase enzyme as well as a catalase enzyme. These nanocomplexes can be used in methods designed to lower blood alcohol levels in vivo, and/or to break down the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Consequently these nanocomplexes can be used to treat a variety of conditions resulting from the consumption of alcohol, including for example, acute alcohol intoxication.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fusion fragment chimeric antigen receptors (FF-CARs), engineered cells expressing FF-CARs, and methods of using thereof to treat, reduce, or inhibit infections by enveloped viruses in subjects.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for selectively expanding cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors and enriching cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors in compositions and methods of treating HIV infection in subjects by administering the expanded and/or enriched cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising HIV peptide vaults, which are vault particles comprising complexes of MVP proteins and one or more HIV peptides bound or genetically linked to one or more MVP proteins or packaged within the internal cavities of the vault particles and methods of using thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are major vault proteins having modified R8 flexible regions, vault particles comprising major vault proteins having modified R8 flexible regions, and methods of packaging passenger polypeptides in the modified R8 flexible regions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising HIV peptide vaults, which are vault particles comprising complexes of MVP proteins and one or more HIV peptides bound or genetically linked to one or more MVP proteins or packaged within the internal cavities of the vault particles and methods of using thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for selectively expanding cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors and enriching cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors in compositions and methods of treating HIV infection in subjects by administering the expanded and/or enriched cells.

Abstract: The HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is a critical component in controlling HIV replication and is an important part of the ultimate failure to eradicate the virus. Disclosed herein are methods for genetically enhancing the HIV-specific CTL response to allow long-term viral suppression or viral clearance. Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were genetically modified such that they differentiate into mature CTLs that will kill HIV infected cells. As disclosed herein, the functional effector cells are not human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted. As disclosed herein, stem cells are transduced with non-HLA restricted chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that allow the recognition of HIV or HIV-infected cells when expressed by a CTL. These CARs are hybrid molecules that contain an extracellular HIV recognition domain and an intracellular TCR-zeta signaling domain. The CTL response may be enhanced through the targeting of T cell inhibitory receptors.

Abstract: The HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is a critical component in controlling HIV replication and is an important part of the ultimate failure to eradicate the virus. Disclosed herein are methods for genetically enhancing the HIV-specific CTL response to allow long-term viral suppression or viral clearance. Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were genetically modified such that they differentiate into mature CTLs that will kill HIV infected cells. As disclosed herein, the functional effector cells are not human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted. As disclosed herein, stem cells are transduced with non-HLA restricted chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that allow the recognition of HIV or HIV-infected cells when expressed by a CTL. These CARs are hybrid molecules that contain an extracellular HIV recognition domain and an intracellular TCR-zeta signaling domain. The CTL response may be enhanced through the targeting of T cell inhibitory receptors.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a new, robust fluorometric cell-free biochemical assay that measures HDL redox activity (HRA) is provided. In certain embodiments the assay is based on the oxidation of the fluorochrome AMPLEX® RED in the presence of HRP. HRA correlated with previously validated cell-based (r=0.47, p<0.001) and cell-free assays (r=0.46, p<0.001). HRA measurement identified samples with dysfunctional HDL in established animal models of atherosclerosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients. Using an immunoaffinity method for capturing HDL the utility of this novel assay for measuring HRA in a high throughput format was demonstrated. HRA measurements correlated significantly with measures of cardiovascular disease such as carotid intima media thickness (r=0.35, p<0.01) and subendocardial viability ratio (r=?0.21, p=0.05) and physiological parameters such as metabolic and anthropometric parameters (p<0.05).

Abstract: The HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is a critical component in controlling HIV replication and is an important part of the ultimate failure to eradicate the virus. Disclosed herein are methods for genetically enhancing the HIV-specific CTL response to allow long-term viral suppression or viral clearance. Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were genetically modified such that they differentiate into mature CTLs that will kill HIV infected cells. As disclosed herein, the functional effector cells are not human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted. As disclosed herein, stem cells are transduced with non HLA-restricted chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that allow the recognition of HIV or HIV infected cells when expressed by a CTL.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and engineered human T cells. The recombinant human progenitor cells are made by transducing a human hematopoietic stem cell with a vector having a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a human T cell receptor specific to a virus, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or an epitope thereof. The recombinant human progenitor cells differentiate and mature into the engineered human thymocytes and the engineered human T cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting, reducing or treating a viral infection in a subject, such as a human subject, which comprises administering recombinant human progenitor cells, engineered human thymocytes, and/or engineered human T cells to the subject.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes nanocomplexes that are designed include enzymes that have complementary functional attributes and methods for using these nanocomplexes. Illustrative examples include nanocomplexes that comprise both an alcohol oxidase enzyme as well as a catalase enzyme. These nanocomplexes can be used in methods designed to lower blood alcohol levels in vivo, and/or to break down the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Consequently these nanocomplexes can be used to treat a variety of conditions resulting from the consumption of alcohol, including for example, acute alcohol intoxication.