GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORONAVIRUS-SPECIFIC EFFECTOR CELLS FOR IN SITU SYNTHESIS OF ANTIVIRAL PROTEINS

An example genetically engineered effector cell comprises an exogenous polynucleotide sequence that includes a receptor element, an actuator element, and an effector element. The receptor element encodes a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an extracellular antigen binding domain operably linked to a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular signaling domain, wherein the extracellular antigen binding domain recognizes an antigen on a surface of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected cell. The actuator element encodes a transcription factor binding site that upregulates synthesis of an antiviral protein. The effector element encodes the antiviral protein operably linked to a signal peptide, wherein, in response to the antigen binding domain of the CAR binding to the antigen of SARS-CoV-2-infected cell, the engineered effector cell is configured to activate and, to synthesize and secrete the antiviral protein.