The present invention includes a method, kits, and assays for identifying a human subject as having an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease, or a human subject with multiple sclerosis caused by elevated soluble Interleukin 7 receptor (sIL7R), by obtaining a biological sample and detecting or measuring in the biological sample an amount of a soluble Interleukin-7 receptor (sIL7R) and an amount of an RNA Helicase DDX39B, whereby a lower expression of DDX39B and a higher secretion of sIL7R identifies the subject from which the biological sample was obtained as having an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease, when compared to a human subject not having an autoimmune disease. The present invention also includes a method of modifying a treating of subjects based on the lower expression of RNA Helicase DDX39B alone or in combination with an increase in sIL7R.

Provided herein are methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating cancer, such as prostate cancer. More specifically, MDA-5-encoding polynucleotides or MDA-5-encoding polypeptides, or functional derivatives thereof, are useful for inducing regression pre-established cancers and development of long-lasting antitumor immune memory.

This disclosure provides vaccine and therapeutic active against viral infections such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infections.

Anti-VASA antibodies (mAbs), particularly humanized mAbs that specifically bind to VASA with high affinity, are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the CDRs of the light chains and the heavy chains, as well as consensus sequences for these CDRs, of these anti-VASA mAbs are provided. The disclosure also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the anti-VASA mAbs, expression vectors, host cells, methods for making the anti-VASA mAbs, and methods for expressing the anti-VASA mAbs. Finally, methods of using the anti-VASA mAbs to isolate and/or purify cells expressing VASA are disclosed.

The present application relates to a modified Prp43 helicase and use thereof. The Prp43 helicase has enhanced ATP hydrolytic or unwinding activity due to introduction of mutations and/or introduction of an auxiliary protein, and can remain binding to the target polynucleotide for a long period of time, thereby allowing the enzyme to control the rate of movement of the polynucleotide continuously and stably at a suitable rate required for sequencing. Thus, the modified or engineered Prp43 helicase mutant of the present application allows for the control of movement of a target polynucleotide in a more advantageous manner, which can be used for nanopore sequencing.

The invention relates to a DDX3X inhibitor for use in the treatment of pneumovirus infection in a mammal, wherein the DDX3X inhibitor may be a compound of Formula (I) wherein y, Z, R.sup.1, X, L, R.sup.a and R.sup.b are as defined herein. The invention also relates to compounds of Formula (I). ##STR00001##

The present invention includes a method, kits, and assays for identifying a human subject as having an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease, or a human subject with multiple sclerosis caused by elevated soluble Interleukin 7 receptor (sIL7R), by obtaining a biological sample and detecting or measuring in the biological sample an amount of a soluble Interleukin-7 receptor (sIL7R) and an amount of an RNA Helicase DDX39B, whereby a lower expression of DDX39B and a higher secretion of sIL7R identifies the subject from which the biological sample was obtained as having an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease, when compared to a human subject not having an autoimmune disease. The present invention also includes a method of modifying a treating of subjects based on the lower expression of RNA Helicase DDX39B alone or in combination with an increase in sIL7R.

The invention relates to a DDX3X inhibitorfor use in the treatment of pneumovirus infection in a mammal, wherein the DDX3X inhibitor may be a compound of Formula (I) wherein y, Z, R.sup.1, X, L, R.sup.a and R.sup.b are as defined herein. The invention also relates to compounds of Formula (I).

##STR00001##

Anti-VASA antibodies (mAbs), particularly humanized mAbs that specifically bind to VASA with high affinity, are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the CDRs of the light chains and the heavy chains, as well as consensus sequences for these CDRs, of these anti-VASA mAbs are provided. The disclosure also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the anti-VASA mAbs, expression vectors, host cells, methods for making the anti-VASA mAbs, and methods for expressing the anti-VASA mAbs. Finally, methods of using the anti-VASA mAbs to isolate and/or purify cells expressing VASA are disclosed.

This invention relates to cells and nucleic acids and also use thereof for producing rhamnolipids, and also methods for producing rhamnolipids.