| abstract |
Disclosed herein are cells that are immune cells, which cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell, and optionally recombinantly express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), wherein the CAR binds to a viral antigen. In certain embodiments, the immune cell is an immunostimulatory cell, such as a T cell. In certain embodiments, the immune cell is an immunoinhibitory cell, such as a regulatory T cell. Also disclosed herein are immune cells that recognize and are sensitized to a viral antigen, which immune cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell. The cells can be sensitized to an antigen that is a viral antigen. Additionally provided are methods of using such cells to treat a viral infection in a subject in need thereof. |