The invention in some aspects relates to isolated nucleic acids, compositions, and kits useful for identifying adeno-associated viruses in cells. In some aspects, the invention provides kits and methods for producing somatic transgenic animal models using recombinant AAV (rAAV) to an animal having at least one transgene that expresses a small interfering nucleic acid or at least one binding site for a miRNA.

Provided herein non-human transgenic animals comprising a genome that: i) under-expresses, or is inducible to under-express, Hu Antigen R (HuR) in at least some neurons of said transgenic animal; ii) does not express HuR, or is inducible to not express HuR, in at least some neurons of said transgenic animal; or iii) does not express functional HuR, or is inducible to not express functional HuR in at least some neurons of said transgenic animal, as well as methods of screening drugs and therapies (e.g., useful in treating ALS) using such animals.

Provided is the use of an ECM1 gene-knockout mouse in the screening of an anti-hepatic fibrosis drug. Specifically, provided is a method for preparing an animal model of hepatic fibrosis or related diseases thereof in non-human mammals, which method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a non-human mammalian cell and inactivating an ECM1 gene in the cell, thereby obtaining a non-human mammalian cell in which the ECM1 gene is inactivated; and (b) using the cell in which the ECM1 gene is inactivated obtained in step (a) to prepare an animal model of hepatic fibrosis or related diseases thereof in which the ECM1 gene is inactivated. The animal model is an effective animal model of hepatic fibrosis or related diseases thereof, may be used for studying hepatic fibrosis or related diseases thereof, and may be used in the screening and testing of a particular drug.

Disclosed herein are genetically modified rodent animals comprising in their genome a nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a human CR1 polypeptide, wherein the rodent animals display a human-like expression of the human CR1 polypeptide. Also disclosed herein are isolated rodent cells including rodent embryonic stem cells, and rodent tissues. Further disclosed are nucleic acid vectors and methods for making the genetically modified rodent animals, as well as methods of using such genetically modified rodent animals for screening and testing candidate compounds.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified non-human animals that express a human or chimeric (e.g., humanized) IL15, and methods of use thereof.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified non-human animals that express a human or chimeric (e.g., humanized) IL4R and/or IL4, and methods of use thereof.

Provided herein, in some aspects, are methods for preventing or treating diabetes in a subject, the method comprising assaying a genomic sample obtained from the subject for an intergenic variant located in a region between a C2 calcium-dependent domain containing 4A gene (C2CD4A) and a C2 calcium-dependent domain containing 4B gene (C2CD4B), and when the intergenic variant is present in the genomic sample, administering to the subject a therapy for diabetes. Also provided herein are rodent cells homozygous for a C2cd4a mutation and/or homozygous for a C2cd4h mutation, and methods for producing the rodent cells.

Non-human animals suitable for use as animal models for Retinoschisis are provided. In some embodiments, provided non-human animals are characterized by a disruption in a Retinoschisin-1 locus. In some embodiments, provided non-human animals are characterized by a mutant Retinoschisin-1 gene. The non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a phenotype that includes the development of one or more symptoms or phenotypes associated with Retinoschisis. Methods of identifying therapeutic candidates that may be used to prevent, delay or treat Retinoschisis or eye-related diseases, disorders or conditions are also provided.

Compositions and methods are provided for modifying a rat genomic locus of interest using a large targeting vector (LTVEC) comprising various endogenous or exogenous nucleic acid sequences as described herein. Compositions and methods for generating a genetically modified rat comprising one or more targeted genetic modifications in their germline are also provided. Compositions and methods are provided which comprise a genetically modified rat or rat cell comprising a targeted genetic modification in the rat interleukin-2 receptor gamma locus, the rat ApoE locus, the rat Rag2 locus, the rat Rag1 locus and/or the rat Rag2/Rag1 locus. The various methods and compositions provided herein allows for these modified loci to be transmitted through the germline.

Provided herein are systems and methods for Inducible and conditional CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi. From animal model creation and the efficiency of CRISPR-based targeting, the present invention comprises developing RNAi models that enable inducible and reversible gene silencing to simulate new therapeutic regimes.