Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Princeton University

Priscilla E M Purnick

Ron Weiss

Ihor R Lemischka

Patrick Guye

Christoph Schaniel

Miles Miller

Aparna Swaminathan

Caroline DeHart

Jon Monk

In its various embodiments, the invention provides, first, a composition comprising a vector for transfecting a cell. The vector comprises a first nucleic acid encoding an antisense agent having thereon an RNA interference target for a transcript of a gene endogenous to the cell. The vector further comprises a second nucleic acid that encodes a cell-killing agent. The second nucleic acid further comprises a sequence of nucleotides transcribable into a non-coding region of a transcript of the second nucleic acid, such that the non-coding region becomes an RNA interference target for the antisense agent. In the transfected cell, the vector operates to interfere with the expression of the cell-killing agent unless and until the vector senses certain endogenous gene signals, whereupon it releases the cell-killing agent. Second, the invention provides a method of treating a disease in a patient by killing cells responsible for the disease, the method comprising administering the vector to the patient until the disease, or a symptom thereof, is ameliorated.

Detection and destruction of cancer cells using programmed genetic vectors

The present invention provides compositions and methods for programming mammalian cells to perform desired functions. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for programming stem cells to differentiate into a desired cell type. A quorum sensing systems that regulates the expression of cell fate regulators is introduced into mammalian host cells, such as stem cells. The quorum sensing systems generally comprises vectors that express the components of a bacterial quorum sensing pathway, including proteins which catalyze the synthesis of an autoinducer and a gene encoding a regulatory partner of the autoinducer, and vectors in which genes encoding cell fate regulators are operably linked to a promoter induced by the autoinducer/regulatory partner complex. The system can also comprise vectors in which genes encoding additional cell fate regulators are operably linked to a promoter that is induced by a factor synthesized in response to a first stage of differentiation, so that a second stage of differentiation is triggered.

Engineered cellular pathways for programmed autoregulation of differentiation

Growing community of inventors

West Windsor, NJ, United States of America

Priscilla E M Purnick