The present disclosure relates to multimeric oligonucleotides comprising subunits, each of the subunits independently comprises a single-stranded or double-stranded oligonucleotide. Each of the subunits is joined to another subunit by a covalent linker, and at least one subunit comprises at least one partial single-stranded oligonucleotide. The present disclosure also relates to methods of synthesizing the multimeric oligonucleotides and the methods of using the multimeric oligonucleotides disclosed herein.

The present disclosure provides a DNA-targeting RNA that comprises a targeting sequence and, together with a modifying polypeptide, provides for site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA. The present disclosure further provides site-specific modifying polypeptides. The present disclosure further provides methods of site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid in a target cell, generally involving contacting the target nucleic acid with an enzymatically inactive Cas9 polypeptide and a DNA-targeting RNA. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods are also provided. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells that produce Cas9; and Cas9 transgenic non-human multicellular organisms.

Molecular beacons and developmental methods related thereto. Methods include obtaining a nucleotide sequence for an aptamer that binds to a target analyte. The aptamer comprises a binding domain nucleotide sequence, a first domain nucleotide sequence, and a displacement domain nucleotide sequence complementary to the first domain nucleotide sequence. A molecular beacon is developed based on the nucleotide sequence of the aptamer by preserving the binding domain nucleotide sequence and truncating or extending one or both of the first domain nucleotide sequence or the displacement domain nucleotide sequence. The resultant molecular beacon is developed such that the molecular beacon comprises a Gibbs free energy value that is greater than the Gibbs free energy value of the aptamer.

Disclosed are nucleic acid nanoparticles, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, a drug comprising doxorubicin and a preparation method thereof. The nucleic acid nanoparticles have a nucleic acid structural domain, the nucleic acid structural domain includes a sequence a, a sequence b and a sequence c; the sequence a includes a sequence a1 or a sequence obtained by insertion, deletion or substitution of at least one base in the sequence a1, the sequence b includes a sequence b1 or a sequence obtained by insertion, deletion or substitution of at least one base in the sequence b1 and the sequence c includes a sequence d or a sequence obtained by insertion, deletion or substitution of at least one base in the sequence.

This invention relates to nanofibers comprising aptamers, which have increased stability and activity relative to free aptamers. The invention further relates to kill-switch nanofibers which disrupt the aptamer nanofibers. The invention further relates to methods of using the aptamer nanofibers and the kill-switch nanofibers to regulate the activity of extracellular targets recognized by the aptamers.

Methods of treating or preventing a disease or disorder are disclosed comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a nucleic acid compound comprising, or consisting of, a nucleic acid sequence capable of binding to a transferrin receptor (TfR) and an effective amount of an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. Also disclosed is a nucleic acid compound comprising, or consisting of, a nucleic acid sequence having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is at least 30 nucleotides in length and at most 50 nucleotides in length, and wherein the nucleic acid sequence is capable of binding to a transferrin receptor (TfR).

A nanoprobe system for in vivo use comprises a plasmonic-active nanoparticle and a molecular probe system. The molecular probe system comprises an oligonucleotide capable of forming a stem-loop configuration, having a first end and a second end, wherein the oligonucleotide is immobilized to the plasmonic-active nanoparticle at the first end and labeled with a Raman reporter at the second end, a placeholder strand at least partially bound to the oligonucleotide, and an attachment mechanism for attachment to a cell membrane.

This invention generally relates to a novel RNA composition and its production method useful for generating and expanding induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells; iPSC) as well as adult stem cells (ASC). The RNA composition so defined can be used for producing not only non-transgenic but also tumor-free iPS cells. The defined RNA composition contans at least two types of different RNA constructs; one is “miR-302 precursor RNA (pre-miR-302)” and the other is “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)” mRNA. Both of pre-miR-302 and RdRp mRNA contain highly structured RNA comformations, such as hairpin and stem-loop structures. To produce highly structured RNAs, a novel PCR-IVT methodology has been developed and used with a specially designed RNA polymerase-helicase mixture activity.

The present invention is directed to novel polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polyproteins of Mycoplasma surface proteins, all of which are useful in detecting infection and for the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against Mycoplasma infections. Detection and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention. Assays, kits, systems, and nanoparticle encapsulated compositions related to the polynucleotides, polypeptides, polyproteins, antibodies or fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof are also disclosed.

The invention provides polynucleotide constructs for the regulation of gene expression by aptamer-based modulation of self-cleaving ribozymes and methods of using the constructs to regulate gene expression in response to the presence or absence of a ligand that binds the aptamer. The invention further provides methods for making and using riboswitches that decrease target gene expression in response to an aptamer ligand as well as riboswitches that increase target gene expression in response to an aptamer ligand.