The invention relates to transgenic animals lacking endogenous Ig and capable of producing transgenic antibodies, as well as methods of making the same. The invention further relates to methods for producing transgenic antibodies in such animals, and transgenic antibodies so produced.

A genetically modified mouse is provided, wherein the mouse is incapable of rearranging and expressing an endogenous mouse immunoglobulin light chain variable sequence, wherein the mouse expresses only one or two human light chain variable domains encoded by human immunoglobulin sequences operably linked to the mouse kappa (κ) constant gene at the endogenous mouse κ locus, wherein the mouse expresses a reverse chimeric antibody having a light chain variable domain derived from one of only two human light chain variable region gene segments and a mouse κ constant domain, and a human heavy chain variable domain and a mouse heavy chain constant domain, from an endogenous mouse heavy chain locus. Bispecific epitope-binding proteins that are fully human are provided, comprising two different heavy chains that associate with an identical light chain that comprises a variable domain derived from one of two different human light chain variable region gene segments.

The present invention provides ungulate animals, tissue and organs as well as cells and cell lines derived from such animals, tissue and organs, which lack expression of functional endogenous immunoglobulin loci. The present invention also provides ungulate animals, tissue and organs as well as cells and cell lines derived from such animals, tissue and organs, which express xenogenous, such as human, immunoglobulin loci. The present invention further provides ungulate, such as porcine genomic DNA sequence of porcine heavy and light chain immunogobulins. Such animals, tissues, organs and cells can be used in research and medical therapy. In addition, methods are provided to prepare such animals, organs, tissues, and cells.

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.

The invention provides improved non-human vertebrates and non-vertebrate cells capable of expressing antibodies comprising human variable region sequences. The present invention is directed to the provision of long HCDR3s from non-human vertebrates and cells. The present invention is also directed to the provision of novel V, D and J pairings in immunoglobulin heavy and light chain loci. Novel, biased antibody diversities and potentially expanded diversities are provided. The invention also provides for novel and potentially expanded diversity or diversity that is biased towards variable gene usage common to antibodies useful for treating and/or preventing certain diseases or conditions, such as infectious diseases. The invention also provides methods of generating antibodies using such vertebrates, as well as the antibodies per se, therapeutic compositions thereof and uses.

Non-human animals comprising a human or humanized DPP4 nucleic acid sequence are provided. Non-human animals that comprise a replacement of the endogenous Dpp4 gene with a human or humanized DPP4 gene, or non-human animals comprising a human or humanized DPP4 gene in addition to the endogenous Dpp4 gene are described. Non-human animals comprising a human or humanized DPP4 gene under control of human or non-human DPP4 regulatory elements is also provided, including non-human animals that have a replacement of non-human Dpp4-encoding sequence with human DPP4-encoding sequence at an endogenous non-human Dpp4 locus. Non-human animals comprising human or humanized DPP4 gene sequences, wherein the non-human animals are rodents, e.g., mice or rats, are provided. Methods for making and using the non-human animals are described.

The invention discloses methods for the generation of chimaeric human-non-human antibodies and chimaeric antibody chains, antibodies and antibody chains so produced, and derivatives thereof including fully humanised antibodies; compositions comprising said antibodies, antibody chains and derivatives, as well as cells, non-human mammals and vectors, suitable for use in said methods.

Non-human animals and methods and compositions for making and using them are provided, which non-human animals have a genome comprising an engineered or recombinant diversity cluster within an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region, which engineered or recombinant diversity cluster comprises an insertion of one or more D.sub.H segments that are each operably linked to a 23-mer recombination signal sequence. Methods for producing antibodies from non-human animals are also provided, which antibodies optionally contain human variable regions and rodent, e.g., constant regions.

Transgenic silkworms stably expressing synthetic spider silk genes or composite silkworm/spider silk genes are disclosed. The exogenous spider silk genes are stably intergrated into a defined site of the fibroin heavy chain intron or a fibroin light chain intron of silkworms. Synthetic spider silk proteins and composite spider silk-silkworm genes and proteins are provided. The expression of exogenous spider silk genes is driven by the endogenous fibroin heavy chain promoter, improving the genetic stability of transgenic silkworms. The composite silkworm/spider silk fibers exhibit exceptional mechanical performance, compared to normal silkworm silk fibers and other transgenic silkworm fibers.

Described herein are compositions (e.g. cells and transgenic animals) and methods relating to engineered Ig loci that permit expression of particular antibodies or antibody segments while still permitting recombination and/or maturation process for antibody optimization.