Some embodiments herein relate generally to compositions comprising microbial organisms and/or metabolites for improving the behavior of a subject, such as a subject having autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and methods of using the same. Some embodiments herein relate generally to profiles of gut bacteria and/or metabolites useful for determining a risk, presence, and/or severity of ASD.

The invention relates to the diagnosis of a condition characterised by TDP-43 proteinopathy by mass spectrometry using one or more signature peptides of TDP-43 species.

Disclosed are an immunoassay method capable of highly sensitively measuring amyloid β in a blood sample, and a kit therefor. The immunoassay method for amyloid β is a method of immunoassay of amyloid β in a blood sample, wherein the immunoassay is carried out in the presence of an anionic polymer such as a dextran sulfate salt or a polystyrene sulfonic acid salt. The kit for immunoassay of amyloid β in a blood sample comprises: an anti-amyloid β antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof; and an anionic polymer.

Provided is a novel kit and assay for free and lipid-bound (exosomal) Hsp70. In particular, an ELISA is described for determining the level of Hsp70 in sample derived from a body fluid of a subject, characterized in that the level of Hsp70 is determined by an anti-Hsp70 antibody.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for reducing expression of C9ORF72 mRNA and protein in an animal with C9ORF72 specific inhibitors. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods of selectively inhibiting a C9ORF72 pathogenic associated mRNA variant by administering an antisense compound targeting the region beginning at the start site of exon 1A to the start site of exon 1B of a C9ORF72 pre-mRNA. Such methods are useful to treat, prevent, or ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases in an individual in need thereof. Such C9ORF72 specific inhibitors include antisense compounds.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of detecting proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or risk variant thereof; diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of disease progression; or monitoring treatment.

It has been revealed that, from a pre-onset stage of Alzheimer's disease, enhancement of phosphorylations of MARCKS and the like causes abnormal spine formation or the like, consequently developing the disease. Moreover, it has also been revealed that the phosphorylations of MARCKS and the like are caused by PKC and the like, and further that b-raf is involved in the phosphorylation of a tau protein important for the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, these proteins have been found to be target molecules useful in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, it has also been revealed that, pre-onset in a stage of frontotemporal lobar degeneration also, b-RAF phosphorylation enhancement causes a decrease in the number of spines and the like, consequently developing the disease. Thus, b-RAF has been found to be a target molecule useful in the diagnosis and treatment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

The present disclosure relates to compounds useful for the detection or modulation of target nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. The present disclosure further relates to methods for treatment of trinucleotide repeat disorders, which can include administration of oligonucleotide analogues that can bind pathogenic nucleotide repeats in DNA or RNA.

This invention relates to inhibitory peptides which bind to α-synuclein molecules and inhibit α-synuclein amyloidogenic aggregation, α-synuclein cytotoxicity, and spread of α-synuclein. Methods of making and using the inhibitory peptides (e.g. to treat subjects having conditions or diseases that are mediated by α-synuclein, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or MSA) are described.

In an ex vivo method of diagnosing a disease associated with synaptic degeneration, a concentration of beta-synuclein in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample taken from a patient is determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).