Viral Vectors & Particles

The Spike (SARS-CoV-2, UK variant) Pseudotyped Lentivirus were produced with SARS-CoV-2 UK Variant Spike (Genbank Accession #QHD43416.1 with UK variant mutations; see below for details) as the envelope glycoproteins instead of the commonly used VSV-G. These pseudovirions contain the firefly luciferase gene driven by a CMV promoter, therefore, the spike-mediated cell entry can be measured via luciferase activity. The Spike (SARS-CoV-2, UK variant) pseudotyped lentivirus can be used to measure the activity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 UK variant in a Biosafety Level 2 facility.

The binding of Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1), a receptor expressed on activated T-cells, to its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, negatively regulates immune responses. PD-1 ligands are found on most cancers, and the PD-1:PD-L1/2 interaction inhibits T-cell activity and enables cancer cells to escape immune surveillance. The PD-1:PD-L1/2 pathway is also involved in regulating autoimmune responses, making these proteins promising therapeutic targets for a number of cancers, as well as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, and type I diabetes. <br />The PD-1 CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are ready to be transduced into almost all types of mammalian cells, including primary and non-dividing cells. The particles contain a CRISPR/Cas9 gene driven by an EF1a promoter, along with 4 sgRNA (single guide RNA) targeting human PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death 1, PDCD1, CD279, GenBank Accession #NM_005018) driven by a U6 promote

Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3, CD223) is a cell surface protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. LAG3 is expressed on activated T-cells, Natural Killer cells, B-cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Its main ligand is the MHC class II, to which it binds with higher affinity than CD4. It negatively regulates cellular proliferation, activation, and homeostasis of T-cells in a similar fashion as CTLA-4 and PD-1, and has been reported to play a role in T-reg suppressive function. A number of LAG3 antibodies are in preclinical development for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disorders. LAG3 may be a better immune checkpoint inhibitor target than CTLA-4 or PD-1, because antibodies targeting CTLA-4 or PD-1 only activate effector T-cells while failing to inhibit T-reg activity, whereas an antagonist LAG3 antibody can both activate effector T-cells (by downregulating the LAG3 inhibiting signal) and inhibit induced (i.e. antigen-specific) T-reg suppressive activ

CTLA4 (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Protein), also known as CD152, is a protein receptor that functions as an immune checkpoint. It is expressed by activated T-cells and transmits an inhibitory signal to T-cells. CTLA4 is homologous to the T-cell co-stimulatory protein CD28, and both molecules bind to CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) on antigen-presenting cells. CTLA4 binds CD80 and CD86 with greater affinity and avidity than CD28, thus enabling it to out-compete CD28 for its ligands and act as an "off" switch when bound to CD80 or CD86. CTLA4 is an important immunotherapy target for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. <br />The CTLA4 CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are ready to be transduced into almost all types of mammalian cells, including primary and non-dividing cells. The particles contain a CRISPR/Cas9 gene driven by an EF1a promoter, along with 4 sgRNA (single guide RNA) targeting human CTLA

The T-Cell Receptor (TCR) is found on the surface of T-cells and is responsible for recognizing antigens bound to MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) molecules. Activation of the TCR results in activation of downstream NFAT signaling. The TCR consists of a heterodimer of two different protein chains, of which the alpha (α) and beta (β) chains are the predominant chains. <br />The TCR CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are ready to be transduced into almost all types of mammalian cells, including primary and non-dividing cells. The particles contain a CRISPR/Cas9 gene driven by an EF1a promoter, along with 4 sgRNA (single guide RNA) targeting human TRAC (T-Cell Receptor Alpha Constant) and human TRBC1 (T-Cell Receptor Beta Constant 1) regions of the α and β chains. <br />The integrating lentivirus integrates randomly into the cell's genome to express both the Cas9 and sgRNA. Puromycin selection increases the knock

CD47 (also known as Rh-associated protein, GP42, Integrin-Associated Protein (IAP), or Neurophilin) is an immunoglobulin-like protein that interacts with its receptor, Signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), on macrophages. This binding interaction regulates transmigration, oxidative burst cytokine production, and phagocytosis, generating a "don't eat me" signal. CD47 is ubiquitously expressed on the surface of normal cells, but is overexpressed in numerous cancer cells where it is thought to contribute to the resistance of tumors to phagocyte-dependent clearance. The CD47 CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are ready to be transduced into almost all types of mammalian cells, including primary and non-dividing cells. The particles contain a CRISPR/Cas9 gene driven by an EF1a promoter, along with 4 sgRNA (single guide RNA) targeting human CD47 (NM_198793.2) driven by a U6 promoter (Figures 1 and 2). The integrating

The binding of Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1), a receptor expressed on activated T-cells, to its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, negatively regulates immune responses. The PD-1 ligands are found on most cancers, and the PD-1:PD-L1/2 interaction inhibits T-cell activity and allows cancer cells to escape immune surveillance. The PD-1:PD-L1/2 pathway is also involved in regulating autoimmune responses, making these proteins promising therapeutic targets for a number of cancers, as well as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, and type I diabetes. The PD-L1 CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based, VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are ready to be transduced into almost all types of mammalian cells, including primary and non-dividing cells. The particles contain a CRISPR/Cas9 gene driven by an EF1a promoter, along with 4 sgRNA (single guide RNA) targeting human PD-L1 (Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1, CD274, B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1), GenBank accession #NM_021893

TIGIT (T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains; VSTM3; VSIG9) is a co-inhibitory receptor that is highly expressed in Natural Killer (NK) cells and activated CD4+, CD8+, and regulatory T-cells. Interaction with the Poliovirus Receptor (PVR; CD155) on antigen presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, recruits either the Src homology (SH) domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases SHP1 and SHP2, or the Inositol phosphatase SHIP1 and SHIP2, to the TIGIT ITIM domain. This increases IL-10 release and suppresses NF-κB and NFAT T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling, which blocks T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. TIGIT also serves as a competitive inhibitor of CD226, a costimulatory receptor for CD155. TIGIT-targeting antibodies which block this T-cell intrinsic inhibitory effect have shown enhanced anti-tumor and anti-viral functions in preclinical studies. <br />The TIGIT CRISPR Lentiviruses are replication incompetent, HIV-based VSV-G pseudo-typed lentiviral particles that are r