A knock-in non-human mammal comprising a recombinant androgen receptor (AR) cassette containing an exogenous human polyglutamine (polyQ) tract encoding sequence in exon 1, wherein the human polyQ tract encoding sequence is stably integrated into the genome of the animal. Also provided are recombinant cells, fertilized eggs and tissues. The resulting animal displays a wide range of phenotypes, best characterized as Metabolic Syndrome and can be used in screening and other assays.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a non-human primate model of AMD, a method for evaluating the efficacy of a test substance in the prevention or treatment of AMD using the AMD animal model produced according to this method, and a method for screening substances effective in the prevention or treatment of AMD using the aforementioned AMD animal model. The method for preparing the AMD animal model consists of administering sodium iodate into a vitreous body of a non-human primate, and the method for evaluating the efficacy of a test substance in the prevention or treatment of AMD consists of preparing a non-human primate model of AMD according to the aforementioned method for preparing an AMD animal model, and evaluating the efficacy of the test substance in the prevention or treatment of AMD using the resulting AMD animal model.

A method for changing a condition of an eyelid of a hairless animal, a model animal for evaluating a therapeutic or prophylactic effect against an eyelid disease obtained by the method, a method for producing the model animal, a method of screening using the model animal and a substance having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect against an eyelid disease selected by the method of screening, and a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against an eyelid disease containing the substance as an active ingredient.

This invention provides compositions of active highly phosphorylated lysosomal sulfatase enzymes, their pharmaceutical compositions, methods of producing and purifying such lysosomal sulfatase enzymes and compositions and their use in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, or treatment of diseases and conditions, including particularly lysosomal storage diseases that are caused by, or associated with, a deficiency in the lysosomal sulfatase enzyme.

Engineered human tissue constructs are provided that are suitable for use in making humanized animals for use in pharmaceutical development. Humanized animals having the constructs implanted in vivo are provided. Methods of making and using the tissue-engineered constructs and humanized animals are also provided.

Disclosed is a method of treating, reducing, or preventing pruritis in a mammal, the method comprising administering at least one natriuretic polypeptide b (Nppb) blocking agent to a mammal in an amount effective to treat or prevent pruritis in the mammal. An in vitro method of identifying a compound that inhibits Nppb activity is also disclosed.

The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

The present invention provides a transgenic non-human mammal retaining, in a specifically expressible state, a DNA encoding IL-33 in the skin, and having one or more features selected from the group consisting of (1) spontaneous onset of dermatitis, (2) increase in the number of inflammatory cells, (3) increase in total IgE concentration, histamine concentration, cytokine concentration and/or chemokine concentration, and (4) increase in scratching time,
under SPF (specific pathogen free) breeding conditions, as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic non-human mammal, and the like.

Provided are compounds that target the lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 2 pathway and cells, such as immune cells, prepared in vitro with the compounds. The compounds and cells can be used to treat a number of conditions, including infectious diseases, hyperproliferative disorders, inborn errors of metabolism, chronic immunometabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, organ transplant rejection, inflammatory disorders, and chronic pain, among others.

Provided is a method for building an eye disease model, comprising infecting microorganisms onto a model carrier. Also provided is an eye model carrier infected with microorganisms prepared using said method. The eye model carrier can be used for eye disease research and eye disease drug screening. The eye disease refers to retinal degeneration and the microorganisms refer to intestinal bacteria or bacteria identical to the intestinal bacteria.