VECTORS
The present invention provides a kit of vectors for transducing an immune cell with multiple transgenes comprising: (i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a transcription factor and; and (ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene wherein expression of the second transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the transcription factor.
1 . A kit of vectors for transducing an immune cell with multiple transgenes, the kit comprising:
(i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a transcription factor; and
(ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene
wherein expression of the second transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the transcription factor.
2 . A kit of vectors according to claim 1 , comprising:
(i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a transcription factor;
(ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene; and
(iii) a third vector which comprises a third transgene
wherein expression of the second and third transgenes within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the transcription factor.
3 . A kit of vectors according to claim 1 , comprising:
(i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a first transcription factor;
(ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a second transcription factor; and
(iii) a third vector which comprises a third transgene
wherein expression of the second transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the first transcription factor, and expression of the third transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the second transcription factor.
4 . A kit of vectors according to claim 1 , comprising:
(i) a first vector which comprises a first transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a first transcription factor; and
(ii) a second vector which comprises a second transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a second transcription factor;
wherein expression of the second transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the first transcription factor, and expression of the first transgene within a host cell is dependent upon expression of the second transcription factor.
5 . A kit according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the vector(s) also comprises a marker gene.
6 . A kit according to claim 1 , wherein the vectors are plasmids, transposons, retroviral vectors or lentiviral vectors.
7 . A kit according to claim 1 wherein the or each transcription factor is from a non-immune cell or is an artificial transcription factor.
8 . A kit according to claim 1 , wherein the first vector comprises a constitutively active promoter.
9 . A kit according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the transgene(s) encodes a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T-cell receptor (TCR).
10 . A cell which comprises a transgene and a nucleotide sequence encoding a non-endogenous transcription factor, wherein expression of the transgene is dependent upon expression of the non-endogenous transcription factor.
11 . A cell transfected or transduced with a kit of vectors according to claim 1 .
12 . A cell according to claim 11 , which is an immune cell.
13 . A cell according to claim 12 , which is a T-cell or natural killer (NK) cell.
14 . A method for making a cell which comprises the step of transducing or transfecting a cell with a kit of vectors according to claim 1 .
15 . A method for making a cell composition expressing a kit of vectors according to claim 1 , which comprises the following steps:
(i) transducing or transfecting a cell with a kit of vectors according to claim 1 wherein one of the vectors comprises a marker gene;
(ii) detecting expression of the marker gene; and
(iii) selecting cells which express the marker gene
wherein expression of the marker gene by a cell indicates that the comprises all of the vectors in the kit
16 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the cell(s) is/are transduced or transfected ex vivo.
17 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of cells according claim 11 .
18 . A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 for use in treating and/or preventing a disease.
19 . A method for treating a disease, which comprises the step of administering a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 to a subject.
20 . A method for treating a disease, which comprises the following steps:
(i) isolation of a cell containing sample from a subject with the disease;
(ii) transduction or transfection of the cells with a kit of vectors according to claim 1 ; and
(iii) administering the cells from step (ii) to the subject.
21 - 22 . (canceled)