The invention relates to plants having a nucleus-encoded, recessive, male sterile phenotype and to the gene locus (gst) correlating therewith, including the gene which is responsible for the fertile/sterile phenotype and which is mutated in the sterile phenotype. The invention further provides methods for identifying the genotype correlating with the expression of features indicated above, and the corresponding genetic tools, such as hybridization probes and oligonucleotides. Also described is the use of the plants obtained according to the invention in hybrid breeding and in the production of products obtained from renewable raw materials, such as bioethanol, biogas and sugar-based products.

The present invention provides a tumor immunotherapy target and use thereof, specifically provides use of the LSECtin expressed by infiltrating tumor-associated macrophage and BTN3A3 expressed by tumor solely or in combination as a target in tumor immunotherapy, and further provides a substance capable of inhibiting the activity of LSECtin expressed by infiltrating tumor-associated macrophage, the activity of BTN3A3 expressed by tumor, or the interaction of the LSECtin with BTN3A3, including RNA molecules, fusion protein BTN3A3-Ig, and monoclonal antibody 5E08, which can be used as an active ingredient to prepare a tumor immunotherapy drug, and is suitable for industrial applications.

A method of determining one or more target nucleic acids in cells includes the steps of: delivering one or more probes into the cells, each of the one or more probes being capable of binding with corresponding target nucleic acid present in the cells to form a double-stranded sequence; inserting an array of functionalized nanoneedles into the cells to bind with the double-stranded sequence; and hybridizing the bound double-stranded sequence with a first and second DNA sequence to produce a hybridized product, the first and second DNA sequence being at least partially complementary to each other. A kit for determining a target nucleic acid in cells includes a first reagent comprising a probe for binding with the target nucleic acid to form a double-stranded sequence; and an array of functionalized nanoneedles comprising a protein for binding with the double-stranded sequence.

The present invention relates to signalling catalytic nucleic acid nanostructures that are responsive to polymerase activity, methods of their use, devices and kits comprising the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalytic signalling nanostructure comprising a DNAzyme/RNAzyme, such as G-quadruplex hemin, and a polymerase—responsive element. Polymerase elongation of the polymerase-responsive element eliminates catalytic activity of the DNAzyme/RNAzyme. The catalytic nucleic acid nanostructure can be used alone or paired with a target recognition nanostructure which can transduce molecular signals into polymerase activity, in an integrated circuit.

The present disclosure is broadly concerned with the field of cancer immunotherapy. For example, the present invention generally relates to an immune cell comprising a genetically engineered antigen receptor that specifically binds to a target antigen and a genetic disruption agent that reduces or is capable of reducing the expression in the immune cell of a gene that weakens the function of the immune cell.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for modulating MFSD12 expression and activity to treat diseases such as lysosomal storage diseases, including cystinosis. Also disclosed are methods of altering skin pigmentation and methods of screening for MFSD12 modulation agents.

Provided herein are methods of treating NLRP3 inflammasome-associated diseases and disorders. Also, disclosed are methods for screening for agents useful in such methods.

Compositions and methods for treatment of a respiratory infection by a virus are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the composition comprises pulmonary administration of a plasmid encoding a GM-CSF sequence and a bifunctional shRNA capable of inhibiting furin expression. In some embodiments, the virus is SARS-CoV-2.

Provided are methods relating to SIRPgamma as a biomarker for cancer cells, and in particular of cancer stem cells and lung adenocarcinoma. Disclosed are also methods of treatment treatment, which involve administering a SIRPgamma targeted agent to a subject with cancer, alone or with another cancer therapy. Methods for diagnosing cancer, identifying subjects with high SIRPgamma levels for treatment, and monitoring SIRPgamma expressing tumors are also provided.

A recombinant viral vector comprising an expression cassette which comprises a coding sequence for an shRNA inhibitor of vasohibin (VASH)-small vasohibin binding protein (SVBP) complex operably linked to regulatory sequences which direct expression thereof is provided. Further provided are compositions containing such viral vectors formulated for delivery to a human patient. Also provided are methods using these vectors and compositions for improving or stabilizing cardiac function.