Central Iowa Health System

Human Gene Therapy Research Institute

Newlink Genetics Corporation

Iowa Health System

Tatiana Seregina

Charles J Link

Gabriela Rossi

Charles J Link, Jr

Nicholas N Vahanian

James N Higginbotham

Suming Wang

John P Levy

Sachet A Shukla

Won Bin Young

W Jay Ramsey

Bradley J Powers

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. Through ex vivo gene therapy protocols tumor cells are engineered to express an &#x3b1;(1,3)galactosyl epitope. The cells are then irradiated or otherwise killed and administered to a patient. The &#x3b1;-galactosyl epitope causes opsonization of the tumor cell enhancing uptake of the opsonized tumor cell by antigen presenting cells which results in enhanced tumor specific antigen presentation. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.

Antitumor vaccination using allogeneic tumor cells expressing alpha (1,3)-galactosyltransferase

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. Through ex vivo gene therapy protocols tumor cells are engineered to express an &#x3b1;(1,3)galactosyl epitope. The cells are then irradiated or otherwise killed and administered to a patient. The &#x3b1; galactosyl epitope causes opsonization of the tumor cell enhancing uptake of the opsonized tumor cell by antigen presenting cells which results in enhanced tumor specific antigen presentation. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. Through ex vivo gene therapy protocols tumor cells are engineered to express an &#x3b1; (1,3) galactosyl epitope. The cells are then irradiated or otherwise killed and administered to a patient. The &#x3b1; galactosyl epitope causes opsonization of the tumor cell enhancing uptake of the opsonized tumor cell by antigen presenting cells which results in enhanced tumor specific antigen presentation. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.

Antitumor vaccination using allogeneic tumor cells expressing alpha (1,3)-galactosyl transferase

A method for treating tumors. Through infusion or xenotransplantation of xenogeneic cells, such as infusion of murine cells into the peritoneal cavity of humans, a hyperacute rejection response to the cells is induced. This in turn creates a bystander effect to the tumor. This effect creates tumor regression. This treatment can be used alone or in conjunction with gene therapy or chemotherapy treatments.

Method for tumor treatment using infusion of xenogeneic cells to induce hyperacute rejection and innocent bystander effect

The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for the identification of differential protein expression patterns and concomitantly the active genetic regions that are directly or indirectly involved in different tissue types, disease states, or other cellular differences desirable for diagnosis or for targets for drug therapy.

Methods and compositions for elucidating relative protein expression levels in cells

The present invention describes an efficient retroviral or viral based method that allows easy and quick identification of gene transfer in living, transduced mammalian cells. Retroviral and viral vector producer cells were generated containing a gene for an improved humanized red-shifted, Green Fluorescent Protein (hRGFP) which increases the resulting fluorescence yield after excitation. This humanized, red-shifted GFP (hRGFP) gene was cloned into several vectors and transfected into various packaging cell lines to produce vibrant green fluorescence after excitation with blue light at 450-490 nm. These vectors represent a substantial advance over currently available gene transfer marking systems or wild-type GFP marker systems none of which have been stably transfected into cells.

Growing community of inventors

West Des Moines, IA, United States of America

Tatiana Seregina