Hoxb5 identifies long-term hematopoietic stem cells. Expression of Hoxb5 distinguishes between LT-HSCs and non-LT-HSCs, and the marker identifies substantially all LT-HSC in the bone marrow. By utilizing fluorescent proteins under the endogenous expression control of Hoxb5, LT-HSC can be monitored and isolated, including without limitation detection and monitoring of HSC in bone morrow; production of LT-HSC from pluripotent stem cells such as iPS cells; for analysis of early stage LT-HSC; in screening methods for expansion and manipulation of LT-HSC, and the like.

A conditionally replicating adenovirus were generated that can specifically replicate and express therapeutic genes in neuroendocrine tumors. The promoter-specific expression of the adenoviruses is regulated upstream by an INSM1 (insulinoma-associated-1) promoter that is silent in normal adult tissues but active in developing neuroendocrine cells and neuroendocrine tumors. By placing the INSM1-promoter with an insulator and two copies of neuronal restrictive silencer elements in an adenoviral vector, the construct can retain tumor specificity and drive expression of a mutated adenovirus E1A gene (424E1A) and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. The INSM1-promoter-driven viruses could replicate specifically in the INSM1-positive cells and I NSM1-specific HSV-tk expression in combination with ganciclovir treatment displayed dose-dependent tumor cell-specific killing in insulinomas. When the INSM1-promoter driven HSV-tk was combined with 424E1A and INSM 1 p-HSV-tk viruses, the co-infected insulinoma expressed higher levels of HSV-tk and more efficient tumor suppression as compared to the INSM1 p-HSV-tk virus alone.

The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating diseases or disorders associated with pathological calcification or pathological ossification. In certain embodiments, the diseases or disorders are selected from the group consisting of Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy (GACI), Idiopathic Infantile Arterial Calcification (IIAC), Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL), hypophosphatemic rickets, osteoarthritis, calcification of atherosclerotic plaques, PXE, hereditary and non-hereditary forms of osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, hardening of the arteries occurring with aging, calciphylaxis resulting from end stage renal disease and progeria.

The invention provides compositions and methods for manufacturing pluripotent cells. In particular, the invention provides improved culture platforms for manufacturing pluripotent cells with ground state pluripotency.

The present disclosure provides, among other aspects, codon-altered polynucleotides encoding Factor VIII variants for expression in mammalian cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure also provides mammalian gene therapy vectors and methods for treating hemophilia A.

The invention in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses useful for targeting transgenes to CNS tissue, and compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating CNS-related disorders.

The invention in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses useful for targeting transgenes to CNS tissue, and compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating CNS-related disorders.

The present disclosure provides, among other aspects, codon-altered polynucleotides encoding Factor VIII variants for expression in mammalian cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure also provides mammalian gene therapy vectors and methods for treating hemophilia A.

A composition comprising a gene therapy product for use in the treatment of a dystrophic disease in a subject, advantageously in humans, wherein: the gene therapy product comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a functional microdystrophin; the composition is systemically administered.

Disclosed are nucleic acid sequences comprising a cardiomyocyte-specific, cardiac stress-induced promoter operably linked to a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) and/or a gene of interest. Disclosed are vectors comprising one or more of the disclosed nucleic acids. Disclosed are methods of using the disclosed nucleic acid sequences or vectors for treating a subject in need thereof. Disclosed are methods of treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a vector to the subject, wherein the vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising a cardiomyocyte-specific, cardiac stress-induced promoter operably linked to a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) and/or a gene that encodes a PH therapeutic, wherein the PH therapeutic is expressed in cardiomyocytes undergoing cardiac stress.