MVA Expressing Modified HIV envelope, gag, and pol Genes
Haplotypes of Human Bitter Taste Receptor Genes
Interleukin 24 (IL-24) to treat inflammatory diseases
Proinflammatory T-helper 17 cells (Th17) play important roles in host immune defense against infection, but uncontrolled activation of these cells, known as the Th17 response, may cause autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases (uveitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease) through the effects of Th17 lineage cytokines (such as, IL-17F, IL-22 and GM-CSF). Importantly, IL-17A (a proinflammatory cytokine) represses other Th17 lineage cytokines by upregulating the regulatory cytokine IL-24.
Efficacious Fluorinated Cytidine Analog Cancer Therapeutic With Low Toxicity In Animal Studies
Cytidine analogs remain an area of active drug discovery and development, with five FDA approved drugs for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Two of these drugs, azacitidine (Vidaza®) and decitabine (Dacogen®), which were approved for myelodysplastic syndromes in 2004 and 2006, respectively, inhibit the DNA maintenance methyltransferase DNMT1. Because of the general toxicity of azacitidines, other nucleoside analogs are favored as therapeutics.
T Cell Receptors Targeting p53 Mutations for Cancer Immunotherapy and Adoptive Cell Therapy
The tumor protein p53 is a cell cycle regulator. It responds to DNA damage by triggering the DNA repair pathway and allowing cell division to occur or inducing cell growth arrest, cellular senescence, and/or apoptosis. p53 therefore acts as a tumor suppressor by preventing uncontrolled cell division. However, mutations in p53 that impair its cell cycle regulatory functions can induce uncontrolled cell division leading to cancer.
Methods of Producing Thymic Emigrants from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Hematopoietic and pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into T cells with potential clinical utility. Current approaches for in vitro T cell production rely on Notch signaling and artificial mimicry of thymic selection. However, these approaches result in unconventional or phenotypically aberrant T cells; which may lead to unpredictable behavior in clinical use. Thus, there exists a need for improved methods of generating conventional T cells in vitro from stem cells.
Self-Assembling Nanoparticles Composed of Transmembrane Peptides and Their Application for Specific Intra-Tumor Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Peptides corresponding to transmembrane domains of a number of integral proteins were discovered to spontaneously self-assemble in aqueous solutions into stable and remarkably uniform nanoparticles. Researchers at the NCI’s Cancer and Inflammation Program have developed fully synthetic, peptide-based, virus-like nanoparticles capable of delivering cytotoxic, radioactive, and imaging agents.
Structure and function of tumor-target self-assembling particles:
Photoactivatable Lipid-based Nanoparticles as a Vehicle for Dual Agent Delivery
The invention relates to novel lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes) for use in targeted, on demand and on site drug delivery. The particles include a wall surrounding a cavity, wherein the wall is comprised of:
- A lipid bilayer comprising 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-
phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000), and
An Anti-Viral Polypeptide: Griffithsin
Virus entry into a susceptible host cell is the first step in the formation of all viral diseases. Controlling viral infections by disrupting viral entry is advantageous for antibody-mediated neutralization by the host’s immune system and as a preventive and therapeutic antiviral strategy. Plant-derived carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) have emerged as a new class of antiviral biologics by taking advantage of a unique glycosylation pattern only found on the surface of viruses.