The present invention relates to the field of veterinary diagnostics, specifically to a test for the detection of antibodies against CSFV. In particular the invention relates to a method for detecting antibodies against wild type CSFV in a test sample, characterized in that the method comprises co-incubating with a carrier comprising a mutated TAVSPTTLR epitope of CSFV E2 protein. Further, the invention relates to a diagnostic test kit, and to the use of the method according to the invention. In addition the invention relates to a method for differentiating between animals infected with wild type CSFV and animals that were vaccinated against CSFV with a CSFV (marker) vaccine, and to a method for controlling an infection with wild type CSFV in a population of porcine animals, by the combined use of a CSFV (marker) vaccine and the diagnostic test kit of the invention.

The invention relates to engineered CRISPR/Cas9 systems for genomic modification and regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells. The specification describes the design and validation of polynucleotides encoding the Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) Cas9 gene and protein and variants of that protein, where the nucleotide sequence has been optimized for expression in mammalian cells, and also modified by fused sequences that enhance various aspects of the CRISPR/Cas system. The specification also describes systems for RNA-guided genome engineering and gene regulation in mammalian cells, including human cells.

The disclosure provides methods for generating an optimized nucleotide sequence encoding an engineered influenza structural protein and the optimized nucleotide sequences obtained therefrom. The optimized nucleotide sequences can be used in a reverse genetics system to facilitate the rescue of infectious influenza virus containing the engineered structural proteins and/or enhance viral titers. Also provided are methods of preparing an influenza vaccine composition using the optimized nucleotide sequences, as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the influenza vaccine composition.

The invention described herein provides a recombinant replication-defective vims derived from Herpesvirales order, wherein the virus is characterized by a complete deletion of a gene encoding ICP27, or a functional equivalent gene thereof. The invention also provides production cell lines for such recombinant replication-defective vims, wherein the cell lines have a coding sequence for ICP27 or a functional equivalent thereof, and wherein the coding sequence has no or minimal sequence overlap with the virus characterized by the complete deletion of the gene encoding ICP27. Method of using such recombinant replication-defective vims and production cell lines are also provided.

The present disclosure provides, among other aspects, codon-altered polynucleotides encoding Factor VIII variants for expression in mammalian cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure also provides mammalian gene therapy vectors and methods for treating hemophilia A.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and compositions useful for treating bestrophinopathies, such as Best Disease.

Provided are an engineered CRISPR/Cas12f1 system of which editing efficiency is improved compared to a canonical CRISPR/Cas12f1 system, and a use thereof. A U-rich tail sequence in crRNA is provided that can be introduced into an original guide RNA to improve the editing efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas12f1 system. The U-rich tail sequence has abundant uridine residues at the 3′-ternimus of crRNA, and may further include additional nucleic acids in addition to uridine depending on the environment in which the guide RNA is actually used and the environment in which the guide RNA is expressed. The inventors of the present application described the structure of the U-rich tail sequence, the position of introduction, and the effect thereof with respect to genome editing efficiency.

The present disclosure provides, among other aspects, codon-altered polynucleotides encoding Factor VIII variants for expression in mammalian cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure also provides mammalian gene therapy vectors and methods for treating hemophilia A.

The invention relates to modified HPV particles that can be used therapeutically. Modified HPV particles may be used to deliver therapeutic agents, including siRNA molecules. Modified HPV particles may be used for the treatment of diseases or conditions of mucosal tissue, including HPV (human papilloma virus) infection and HPV-related tumors.

The present invention provides a novel method for the recombinant production of Factor C protein from horseshoe crab using a parasitic protozoan expressing the Factor C protein. In particular, the present invention provides a parasitic protozoan host cell harboring a polynucleotide encoding horseshoe crab Factor C protein, and a method for producing Factor C protein comprising culturing said parasitic protozoan host cell under conditions such that the cells express the horseshoe crab Factor C protein. Furthermore, the present invention provides recombinant Factor C protein produced by the novel method and its use in the detection and/or removal of endotoxin.