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Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) and T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies use lymphocytes that target somatic mutations expressed by tumors cells to treat cancer patients. One of the challenges of these therapies is the identification and isolation of mutation-specific cells and TCRs. While neoantigen specific cells are relatively abundant in the tumor, they are far less common in peripheral blood, a more accessible source of T cells. 

The chemokine receptor, CCR4 is a seven transmembrane G protein-coupled cell surface receptor molecule with selective expression on cells of the hematopoietic system. In adult T cell leukemia (ATL), the cell-surface expression of CCR4 on leukemic cells has been found to be nearly universal. Therefore, a CCR4-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) -cell may provide an effective therapeutic against ATL.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological response to double-stranded RNA that regulates expression of protein-coding genes and is a natural mechanism for gene silencing. Delivery of short, interfering RNA (siRNA) leads to RNAi of the targeted genes. 

The tumor-suppressor p53 protein plays a major role in tumor development. Most human cancers fail to normally activate wild-type p53, which is at least partly responsible for the unregulated growth of cancer cells and their failure to undergo apoptosis. While many chemotherapeutics enhance p53 levels, their non-specific DNA damage (genotoxicity) causes unfavorable side effects.
 

Soluble forms of human CD4 (sCD4) inhibit HIV-1 entry into immune cells.  Different forms of sCD4 and their fusion proteins have been extensively studied in animal models and clinical trials as promising HIV-1 inhibitors. However, they have not been successful in clinical trials due to their transient efficacy.  sCD4 is also known to interact with class II major histocompatibility complex (MHCII) and, at low concentrations, could enhance HIV-1 infectivity. 

The technology is directed to compositions and methods of designing nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) composed entirely of DNA, RNA, or DNA and RNA to achieve desirable immunostimulation and decrease undesirable effects on the immune system by changing the composition of the NANP. Benefits of the invention include the desirable activation of the immune system by these particles to increase the efficacy of vaccines and immunotherapies.

Despite therapeutic advances, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still a pervasive disease, with approximately 37 million people infected worldwide. Peptides have become popular therapeutic agents, as these proteins offer structural diversity for many different diseases. Several peptides were commercially developed as HIV therapeutics, demonstrating the high potential for peptides in treating HIV. 

There are currently no methodologies that allow for epigenome, genome and transcriptome analysis all in a single cell. In addition, there are currently no methodologies that permit repeating the results of these analyses on the same single cells.

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a critical protein involved in regulation of mitosis, and aberrant expression of this kinase is found in various cancer types.  Inhibition of Plk1 is currently being pursued in pre-clinical drug development for novel anti-cancer therapeutics.  Plk1 contains an allosteric domain, known as the polo-box domain (PBD), that is responsible for localizing the kinase domain to mitotic structures through protein-protein interactions.  

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a critical protein involved in regulation of mitosis, and aberrant expression of this kinase is found in various cancer types.  Inhibition of Plk1 is currently being pursued in pre-clinical drug development for novel anti-cancer therapeutics.  Plk1 contains an allosteric domain, known as the polo-box domain (PBD), that is responsible for localizing the kinase domain to mitotic structures through protein-protein interactions.