Disclosed herein are nucleic acids encoding for and proteins expressing chimeric C1q polypeptides, non-human animals comprising said nucleic acids, and methods of making or using said non-human animals.

Described herein are donor vectors and systems for use in dual recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. Also described herein are animal models and human cells for consistent, rigorous, and facile investigation of transgene expression. Further described herein are methods of screening for therapeutic drugs using these animal models, and methods of treatment.

There is provided a method of reducing neuronal microtubule binding protein Tau (Tau) levels, promoting neuronal Tau degradation and/or promoting neuronal survival, in a subject in need thereof comprising contacting the subjects neurons with an effective amount of an agent that increases a long phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) Numb isoform expression and/or activity, whereby neural Tau levels is reduced in the presence of the agent, the neuronal Tau degradation is promoted and/or the neuronal survival is promoted as compared to in the absence thereof. Also provided are methods of stratification based on PTB Numb isoform expression and/or activity of the subjects and compositions and kits for applying the methods.

Described are transgenic, non-human animals comprising a nucleic acid encoding an immunoglobulin light chain, whereby the immunoglobulin light chain is a common human, human-like, or humanized light chain. Further provided is methods for producing an immunoglobulin from the transgenic, non-human animal.

Provided are cells, tissues, organs, and/or animals having one or more modified genes for enhanced xenograft survival and/or tolerance. And methods of producing and using the cells, tissues, organs, and/or animals.

Genetically modified cells, tissues, and organs for treating or preventing diseases are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making the genetically modified cells and non-human animals.

Provided is a method for preparing a PD-1 gene-modified humanized animal model. The method utilizes the CRIPSR/Cas9 technique to replace partial fragments of a mouse PD-1 gene with fragments of a human PD-1 gene using homologous recombination by constructing a targeting vector, thereby preparing a gene-modified humanized mouse. This mouse can normally express a PD-1 protein containing the functional domain of the human PD-1 protein, and can be used as an animal model for mechanism research regarding PD-1, PD-L1 and other signals, for screening regulators, and for toxicological research. The method has an important and high application value in studies on functions of the PD-1 gene and in the development of new drugs.

The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing a metabolic disorder in a subject, methods of treating or preventing coronary artery disease in a subject with a metabolic disorder, as well as methods of reducing hepatic glucose production in a subject. Such methods include, but are not limited to, the administration to the subject of inhibitors or activators of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1, Dach2, or any combination thereof. The invention also provides methods of identifying a compound that inhibits the activity of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach2, or reduces the activity and/or activation of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach, or activates CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach2.

A transgenic chicken comprising an inactivated heavy immunoglobulin gene and/or inactivated light chain immunoglobulin gene is provided, as well as cells and targeting vectors for making the same.