An aptamer, capable of inhibiting DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) for use in therapy of diseases characterised by aberrant DNA methylation, e.g. cancer. Method for identifying inhibitors of DNA methyltransferase. An aptamer, capable of inhibiting DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) for use in therapy of diseases characterised by aberrant DNA methylation, e.g. cancer. SELEX method for identifying aptamers of DNA methyltransferase optionally using 2-fluoro-pyrimindine nucleotide derivatives.

The present invention relates to diagnostic test and technology. In particular, it relates to a method for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample comprising contacting said sample with at least one sensor element comprising at least one binding agent which is capable of specifically binding to the analyte and which comprises at least one magnetic label; and in functional proximity thereto a magnetic tunnel junction generating a signal which is altered upon binding of the analyte to the binding agent for a time and under conditions which allow for specific binding of the analyte suspected to be present in the sample to the at least one binding agent, measuring an altered signal generated by the magnetic tunnel junction upon analyte binding to the at least one binding agent comprising the at least one magnetic label, and determining the analyte based on the altered signal which is generated by the magnetic tunnel junction. The present invention further relates to a device for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample and for using such a device. Moreover, the present invention furthermore relates to an aptamer which is capable of specifically binding to an analyte and which comprises at least one magnetic label and a method for identifying such an aptamer. Finally, the invention relates to a kit for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for determining the presence of microorganisms in biological fluids by processing extracellular vesicles. The fluids are treated with a composition comprising a pH buffer, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic detergent, an anionic surfactant, and a reducing agent. This treatment solubilizes extracellular vesicles in the fluid, enhancing the ability of diagnostic tools to find the microorganisms. The extracellular vesicles may also be isolated before solubilizing.

The present disclosure provides a novel approach, recomSELEX, that highly integrate mutually supportive recombination and computational methods for aptamer selection and identification. The recomSELEX approach comprises a recombinatorial SELEX platform for aptamer screening that exponentially increases the sequence space that is explored by incorporation of a DNA shuffling step that allows recombination between aptamers. Subsequently, the recombinatorial SELEX platform can also be employed to develop new and optimize already existing aptamers. The recomSELEX further comprises a computational SELEX platform with a constrained genetic algorithm (GA) to identify potential aptamers that are stable and have the desired specificity and affinity of a target.

The present disclosure provides a novel approach, recomSELEX, that highly integrate mutually supportive recombination and computational methods for aptamer selection and identification. The recomSELEX approach comprises a recombinatorial SELEX platform for aptamer screening that exponentially increases the sequence space that is explored by incorporation of a DNA shuffling step that allows recombination between aptamers. Subsequently, the recombinatorial SELEX platform can also be employed to develop new and optimize already existing aptamers. The recomSELEX further comprises a computational SELEX platform with a constrained genetic algorithm (GA) to identify potential aptamers that are stable and have the desired specificity and affinity of a target.

The present invention provides an aptamer that specifically hinds CD44, composition comprising the aptamer, as well as methods for detecting CD44 and for targeted delivery to CD44-expressing cells.

Methods and compositions for detecting tau pathology are described. The compositions for detecting tau pathology comprise a targeting ligand that specifically binds to a cell surface marker of tau pathology, wherein the targeting ligand is linked to a liposome that includes an imaging agent. The compositions can be used in a method for imaging tau pathology in a subject that comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of the composition to a subject and imaging at least a portion of the subject to determine if that portion of the subject exhibits tau pathology. The compositions can also be used to detect tau pathology in biological samples obtained from a subject.

The present invention discloses a profiling technique for a target molecule population in a sample including an unknown target molecule, using an aptamer. In the method of the present invention, the target molecule population in the sample may be provided as an aptamer profile including an unknown target molecule, and this aptamer profile can be used to determine whether drug prescription is appropriate (i.e., anticancer drug companion diagnosis, etc.), to provide disease diagnosis information, to monitor drug treatment, to determine drug compliance, to determine the degree or absence/presence of in vitro cellular response to drug treatment, and to obtain useful information to humans for classification or identification of species, etc.

The invention relates to mutant DNA polymerases of the Pol theta subfamily capable of performing non-templated nucleic acid extension, or of a functional fragment of such a polymerase, methods of producing these mutant DNA polymerases, kits and methods of using these mutant DNA polymerases.

A Ligand-guided-Selection (LIGS) method for identifying highly specific aptamers against a predetermined antigen of a target is provided. LIGS uses a stronger and highly specific bivalent binder (e.g. an antibody) interacting with its cognate antigen to displace specific aptamers from an enriched SELEX pool. Elution of the displaced aptamers provides aptamers that are specific to the predetermined antigen.