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.

Provided herein are transgenic non-human animals whose genomes comprise two or more human genes selected from CD33, Siglec-5, Siglec-7, Siglec-9, Siglec-11, Siglec-14, and Siglec-16, to methods of screening candidate agents that bind to and/or modulate the function and/or activity of at least one of the human genes in the transgenic non-human animals, and to methods of screening candidate agents to determine their effect on one or more activities and/or functions associated with expression of at least one of the human genes in the transgenic non-human animals. Further provided herein are methods of recapitulating a human Siglec immune system in a non-human animal, and methods of generating a non-human animal disease model comprising a human Siglec repertoire.

It was found that Rubicon is involved in aging through suppression of autophagic activity, and it is possible to achieve suppression of aging, prevention, amelioration, or treatment of an age-related disease or symptom, or extension of lifespan, by targeting Rubicon.

The present invention relates to a human artificial chromosome which is genetically transmissible to the next generation with high efficiency and the method for using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a human artificial chromosome in which an about 3.5 Mb to about 1 Mb region containing an antibody λ light chain gene derived from human chromosome 22 is bound to a chromosome fragment which is transmissible to a progeny through a germ line of a non-human animal, said chromosome fragment is derived from another human chromosome; a non-human animal carrying the human artificial chromosome and an offspring thereof; a method for producing the non-human animal; a method for producing a human antibody using the nonhuman animal or an offspring thereof; and a human antibody-producing mouse carrying the human artificial chromosome.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of renal damage. The invention provides protein-based renal therapeutic agents for administration to subjects in order to prevent or treat renal degeneration or damage.

The invention provides for delivery, engineering and optimization of systems, methods and compositions for manipulation of sequences and/or activities of target sequences. Provided are delivery systems and tissues or organ which are targeted as sites for delivery. Also provided are vectors and vector systems some of which encode one or more components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells to ensure enhanced specificity for target recognition and avoidance of toxicity and to edit or modify a target site in a genomic locus of interest to alter or improve the status of a disease or a condition.

The invention provides universally acceptable “off-the-shelf” hypoimmunogenic pluripotent cells and differentiated cardiac, endothelial, neuronal, islet, or retinal pigment cells thereof. Such hypoimmune cells are used to treat patients in need thereof. The cells lack major immune antigens that trigger immune responses and are engineered to avoid phagocytic endocytosis.

A delivery system for mRNA nucleic acid drugs, a preparation method and an application thereof are provided. The delivery system includes lipid nanoparticles for loading one or more kinds of mRNA molecules, wherein the lipid nanoparticles are prepared from raw materials including an ionizable cationic lipid, a phospholipid auxiliary lipid, cholesterol, and a polyethylene glycol-derivatized phospholipid. In the mRNA nucleic acid drug targeted intracellular delivery system based on the non-viral carrier of the present invention, the mRNA is concentrated and loaded by the electrostatic interaction between the ionizable cationic lipid and the mRNA. Phospholipid auxiliary lipid component-mediated pH sensitivity and late endosomal escape enable mRNA nucleic acid drugs to be efficiently delivered to target cells and then released into the cytoplasm of the target cells for exerting a pharmacodynamic effect.

Genetically modified non-human animals and methods and compositions for making and using the same are provided, wherein the genetic modification comprises a humanization of an endogenous signal-regulatory protein gene, in particular a humanization of a SIRPα gene. Genetically modified mice are described, including mice that express a human or humanized SIRPα protein from an endogenous SIRPα locus.

A culture medium is provided which is capable of establishing expanded potential stem cell (EPSC) lines which resemble naive or ground state ES cells, but are also able to differentiate into placenta trophoblasts and the embryo proper. Methods are provided using the medium for the in vitro conversion and maintenance of cells, including pluripotent cells into EPSCs.