The present invention is related to FPR2 receptor agonist aptamers and uses thereof. The present invention is related to a nucleic acid aptamer that is able to specifically bind to the FPR2 receptor and activate said FPR2 receptor, comprising a nucleotide sequence with a sequence identity of at least 70% with the sequence SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 3.

Compounds and compositions for determining the level of antithrombin (ATIII) in a sample are described. Methods of forming the compounds and compositions are also described. Methods of using the compounds and compositions to quantify the level of ATIII in a subject are further described. The methods can be used to facilitate determining a dosage or heparin or ATIII to administer to a patient.

This invention relates to methods and compositions useful for treatment of subjects with dry age-related macular degeneration or geographic atrophy secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration. The methods involve administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-05 agent ARC1905, which comprises a C5-specific aptamer conjugated to a polyethylene glycol moeity via a linker, in an amount effective for slowing or inhibiting loss of low luminance visual acuity in the subject. The aptamer consists of the sequence fCmGfCfCGfCmGmGfUfCfUfCmAmGmGfCGfCfUmGmAmGfUfCfUmGmAmGfUfUfUAfCf CfUmGfCmG-3T, wherein fC and fU=2′ fluoro nucleotides, mG and mA=2′-OMe nucleotides, all other nucleotides are 2′-OH, and 3T indicates an inverted deoxythymidine. Dosages and administration schedules are disclosed.

This disclosure provides compositions, recombinant expression constructs, and engineered systems that include a polynucleotide including or encoding a Cas12a tracrRNA, and methods for their use. The materials and methods of the disclosure are especially suited to sequence-specific genome editing of eukaryotic genomic sequences.

The invention relates to a nucleic acid aptamer with the capability of binding specifically to a and inhibiting TLR-4, to a complex comprising said aptamer and a functional group, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The invention also relates to uses and methods for detecting TLR-4 and to uses and methods for inhibiting TLR-4. Finally, the invention also relates to an aptamer for use in manufacturing a drug for the treatment of a pathology characterized by an increase in expression of TLR4 and/or an increase in activation of TLR-4.

Provided herein are aptamers for binding lipoproteins, systems for binding lipoproteins, and methods of detecting lipoproteins in a sample. The aptamers are useful for detecting the levels of lipoproteins in a biological sample and selectively detecting LDL particles in the presence of HDL particles. The aptamers can also be used as therapeutic agents against various diseases.

The invention provides xeno-nucleic acid particle display libraries, methods for identifying functional non-natural nucleic acid (XNA) aptamers using the particle display libraries, and compositions comprising XNA aptamers identified by screening candidate molecules using the xeno-nucleic acid particle display libraries.

Provided is a thrombin binding circular aptamer, the nucleotide sequence thereof being at least one selected from a) to e): a) a nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the 5′ end and 3′ end are connected to form a ring; b) a nucleotide sequence obtained by substitution in the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:1, the obtained nucleotide sequence being a circular DNA molecule capable of specific recognition of thrombin; c) a nucleotide sequence obtained by deletion in the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:1, the obtained nucleotide sequence being a circular DNA molecule capable of specific recognition of thrombin; d) a nucleotide sequence obtained by adding one or more nucleotides to the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:1; and e) a nucleotide sequence obtained by modification of the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:1 with a chemical group.

Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, systems, and kits for controlling the activity and/or improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. For example, provided are guide RNAs (gRNAs) that are engineered to exist in an “on” or “off” state, which control the binding and hence cleavage activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases. Some aspects of this disclosure provide mRNA-sensing gRNAs that modulate the activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases based on the presence or absence of a target mRNA. Some aspects of this disclosure provide gRNAs that modulate the activity of an RNA-programmable endonuclease based on the presence or absence of an extended DNA (xDNA).

A method for determining nitric oxide concentration in biological samples. The method includes for determining nitric oxide concentration in a sample including: (i) providing a nucleic acid complex comprising a first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising a fluorophore crosslinked to the first strand, the fluorophore comprising diaminorhodamine-4-methylamine (DAR-4M) conjugated, to dibenzocyclooctyne-polyethylene glycol (DBCO-PEGn) linker, wherein n equals 4-12 and a second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule that is partially or fully complementary to the first single-stranded molecule, wherein the nucleic acid complex further comprises a first label and a targeting moiety conjugated to the first single-stranded nucleic acid molecule or the second single-stranded nucleic acid molecule, the first label is capable of producing a signal, wherein the intensity of the signal is dependent at least on concentration of the nucleic acid complex in the sample; (ii) contacting the sample with the nucleic acid complex; (iii) measuring the intensity of the signal: and (iii) determining the nitric oxide concentration from the measured signal. Compositions for determining nitric oxide concentrations in biological samples are also included.