Disclosed are methods, compositions, and systems for transforming silkworms to produce spider silk and analogs of spider silk. In certain embodiments, the method may include inserting a DNA sequence coding for at least a portion of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, positioned between at least a portion of the 5′ and 3′ ends of a silkworm fibroin gene to generate a fusion gene construct having a sequence that encodes for a polypeptide comprising both spider silk fibroin and silkworm silk fibroin sequences. In certain embodiments, the fused gene is able to replace a native gene present in the silkworm such that the transformed silkworm expresses a polypeptide comprising a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog thereof, and expresses significantly less of the native silkworm silk.

The present invention relates to methods of treatment of clinical disorders associated with protein aggregation comprising administering, to a subject, an effective amount of an anti-protein aggregate (“APA”) compound selected from the group consisting of pimozide, fluphenazine (e.g., fluphenazine hydrochloride), tamoxifen (e.g., tamoxifen citrate), taxol, cantharidin, cantharidic acid, salts thereof and their structurally related compounds. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that each of the aforelisted compounds were able to promote degradation of aggregated ATZ protein in a Caenorhabditis elegans model system. According to the invention, treatment with one or more of these APA compounds may be used to ameliorate the symptoms and signs of AT deficiency as well as other disorders marked by protein aggregation, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's Disease.

Compounds, compositions, methods, materials, and transgenic animals for antihelmintic purposes are described.

Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo or in vitro, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. One example involves a vector for delivering a light-activated NpHR-based molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that codes for light-activated NpHR-based molecule and a promoter. Either a high expression of the molecule manifests a toxicity level that is less than about 75%, or the light-activated NpHR-based proteins are expressed using at least two NpHR-based molecular variants. Each of the variants characterized in being useful for expressing a light-activated NpHR-based molecule that responds to light by producing an inhibitory current to dissuade depolarization of the neuron. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems, methods, kits, compositions of matter and molecules for ion pumps or for controlling inhibitory currents in a cell (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).

The present disclosure relates to dual-cell model and Caenorhabditis elegans model systems for measuring neuron-to-neuron transmission of protein aggregates, and more particularly to transgenic cell and animal model systems expressing fusion proteins of N-terminus or C-terminus of fluorescent proteins with α-synuclein proteins, methods for measuring continuous cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein aggregates using the same, and methods for screening substances for preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Disclosed are methods, compositions, and systems for transforming silkworms to produce spider silk and analogs of spider silk. In certain embodiments, the method may include inserting a DNA sequence coding for at least a portion of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, positioned between at least a portion of the 5′ and 3′ ends of a silkworm fibroin gene to generate a fusion gene construct having a sequence that encodes for a polypeptide comprising both spider silk fibroin and silkworm silk fibroin sequences. In certain embodiments, the fused gene is able to replace a native gene present in the silkworm such that the transformed silkworm expresses a polypeptide comprising a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog thereof, and expresses significantly less of the native silkworm silk.

Described herein are nucleic acid molecules and complexes useful as i-switch pH reporters that have increased sensitivities as a pH reporter and have alternate pH reporting capacity ranges. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for determining pH comprising providing a nucleic acid complex comprising: a first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising the sequence C.sub.nXC.sub.nYC.sub.nZC.sub.n (SEQ ID NO. 6) wherein C is cytosine; X, Y and Z are each one or more of adenine, thymine, guanine, or combinations thereof; and n is greater than or equal to 2; and wherein at least 2 cytosine residues of the first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule are modified; and a second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule that is partially or fully complementary to the first single-stranded molecule, wherein a first label is conjugated to the first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule or the second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule; and wherein the first label is capable of producing a signal, wherein the intensity of the signal varies as a function of the conformation of the nucleic acid complex; and measuring the intensity of the signal and determining the pH from the measured signal.

The present invention provides a novel modified protein which is to be used, as a novel detection tool relating to gene expression, for detecting a chromatin open structure more easily at a higher sensitivity than by the conventional technique. The present invention relates to: a nucleic acid binding fluorescent protein, said protein containing a DNA binding domain in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, characterized by binding independently from base sequences; and a method for fluorescent labeling of an open chromatin in a vital cell, said method comprising a step for transferring a gene encoding a nucleic acid binding protein into the vital cell, characterized in that the nucleic acid binding protein is a protein comprising a DNA binding domain, in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, and a fluorescent protein directly or indirectly bound thereto and the DNA binding domain binds to a nucleic acid independently from base sequences.

Entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora having an enhanced longevity, comprising a first locus comprising a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 75 of the nucleotide sequence SC00004647 as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 5, in which C is substituted by T; and/or a second locus comprising a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 54 of the nucleotide sequence SC00006203 as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 7, in which C is substituted by T.

A bait container assembly for sifting worms from dirt includes a tube, which defines an interior space and which has opposed ends that are open. Each of a pair of lids is hingedly engaged to a respective opposed end of the tube. The lid is selectively engageable to the tube to close the respective opposed end. A grate engaged to the tube defines a pair of compartments within the interior space. The grate sifts worms from dirt positioned in one of the compartments upon inversion of the tube.