IP Library Granted Patent US 12,631,621
Granted Patent B2
US 12,631,621 · App. 19/350,804 · Granted May 19, 2026

Ligand discovery and gene delivery via retroviral surface display

Inventors: Michael Birnbaum (Arlington, MA); Connor Dobson (Takoma Park, MD)
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
G01N33/505C07K14/005C07K14/4748C07K14/5437C07K14/70532C07K14/70539C07K16/2803C12N15/86C07K2317/622C07K2319/02C07K2319/035C07K2319/60C12N2740/15045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,631,621
App. No.
19/350,804
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Compositions of retroviruses and methods of using the same for gene delivery are disclosed, wherein the retroviruses comprise a viral envelope protein comprising at least one mutation that diminishes its native function, a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a membrane-bound domain and an extracellular targeting domain.

Claims (47)

1 . A lentivirus comprising:

(a) a nucleic acid;

(b) a viral envelope comprising

(i) a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-G envelope protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein the VSV-G envelope protein comprises one or more amino acid mutations at position 47 (lysine, K) and/or position 354 (arginine, R), wherein the amino acid mutation(s) diminish the native viral tropism of the VSV-G envelope protein compared to the non-mutated VSV-G envelope protein; and

(ii) a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane-domain and an extracellular targeting domain that binds to a ligand expressed on the surface of a cell.

2 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes an mRNA, a double-stranded DNA, an antisense RNA, a microRNA, a gene of interest, or a protein.

3 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 or position R354.

4 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 and position R354.

5 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise a K47A or K47Q amino acid substitution and/or an R354A or R354Q amino acid substitution.

6 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the extracellular targeting domain comprises a protein, a peptide, or an antibody.

7 . The lentivirus of claim 6 , wherein the extracellular targeting domain comprises an interleukin-13 protein domain, a CD80 protein domain, a full-length antibody, an antibody fragment, a nanobody, a single chain antibody (scFv), an anti-CD19 antibody, an anti-TCR antibody, or an anti-CD3 antibody.

8 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the ligand comprises a T cell receptor (TCR), a cytokine receptor, a cytokine, a T cell surface marker, CD3, CD19, or CD20.

9 . The lentivirus of claim 1 , wherein the cell is a T cell or a B cell.

10 . A method of delivering a nucleic acid to a cell, the method comprising:

(a) providing a lentivirus comprising: a nucleic acid and a viral envelope comprising (i) a VSV-G envelope protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein the VSV-G envelope protein comprises one or more amino acid mutations at position 47 (lysine, K) and/or position 354 (arginine, R), wherein the amino acid mutation(s) diminish the native viral tropism of the VSV-G envelope protein compared to the non-mutated VSV-G envelope protein; and (ii) a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane-domain and an extracellular targeting domain that binds to a ligand expressed on the surface of a cell;

(b) contacting the lentivirus with the cell,

thereby delivering the nucleic acid to the cell.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes an mRNA, a double-stranded DNA, an antisense RNA, a microRNA, a gene of interest, or a protein.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 or position R354.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 and position R354.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise a K47A or K47Q amino acid substitution and/or an R354A or R354Q amino acid substitution.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the extracellular targeting domain comprises a protein, a peptide, or an antibody.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the extracellular targeting domain comprises an interleukin-13 protein domain, a CD80 protein domain, a full-length antibody, an antibody fragment, a nanobody, an scFv, an anti-CD19 antibody, an anti-TCR antibody, or an anti-CD3 antibody.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ligand comprises a T cell receptor (TCR), a cytokine receptor, a cytokine, a T cell surface marker, CD3, CD19, or CD20.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cell is a T cell or a B cell.

19 . A lentivirus, comprising

(a) a nucleic acid encodes an mRNA, a double-stranded DNA, an antisense RNA, a microRNA, a gene of interest, or a protein;

(b) a viral envelope comprising:

(i) a VSV-G envelope protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein the VSV-G envelope protein comprises one or more amino acid mutations at position 47 (lysine, K) and/or position 354 (arginine, R), wherein the amino acid mutation(s) diminish the native viral tropism of the VSV-G envelope protein compared to the non-mutated VSV-G envelope protein; and

(ii) a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane domain and an extracellular targeting domain that comprises an anti-CD3 antibody.

20 . The lentivirus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 or position R354.

21 . The lentivirus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 and position R354.

22 . The lentivirus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise a K47A or K47Q amino acid substitution and/or an R354A or R354Q amino acid substitution.

23 . The lentivirus of claim 19 , wherein the viral envelope further comprises a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane domain and an extracellular targeting domain that comprises a full-length antibody, an antibody fragment, a nanobody, an scFv, or an anti-TCR antibody.

24 . The lentivirus of claim 19 , wherein the viral envelope further comprises a non-viral membrane-bound protein that comprises a CD80 protein comprising a CD80 extracellular domain and a transmembrane domain.

25 . A method of delivering a nucleic acid to a T cell, the method comprising:

(a) providing a lentivirus comprising:

(i) a nucleic acid encoding an mRNA, a double-stranded DNA, an antisense RNA, a microRNA, a gene of interest, or a protein; and a viral envelope comprising

(ii) a VSV-G envelope protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein the VSV-G envelope protein comprises one or more amino acid mutations at position 47 (lysine, K) and/or position 354 (arginine, R), wherein the amino acid mutation(s) diminish the native viral tropism of the VSV-G envelope protein compared to the non-mutated VSV-G envelope protein; and

(iii) a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane domain and an extracellular targeting domain that comprises an anti-CD3 antibody;

(b) contacting the lentivirus with the T cell,

thereby delivering the nucleic acid to the T cell.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 or position R354.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise an amino acid mutation at position K47 and position R354.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more amino acid mutations comprise a K47A or K47Q amino acid substitution and/or an R354A or R354Q amino acid substitution.

29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the viral envelope further comprises a non-viral membrane-bound protein comprising a transmembrane domain and an extracellular targeting domain that comprises a full-length antibody, an antibody fragment, a nanobody, an scFv, or an anti-TCR antibody.

30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the viral envelope further comprises a non-viral membrane-bound protein that comprises a CD80 protein comprising a CD80 extracellular domain and a transmembrane domain.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2025
From: BIRNBAUM, MICHAEL; DOBSON, CONNOR
To: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 073168/0311 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 19014949 · Jan 9, 2025
Continuation 18458657 · Aug 30, 2023
Continuation 16826665 · Mar 23, 2020
Provisional Application 62851889 · May 23, 2019
Related Publication 20260029398A1 · Jan 29, 2026
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