Methods for treating, and for identifying novel treatments for, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as animal and cellular models. The present disclosure shows that age dependent accumulation of genomic lesions leads to the production of RNA molecules within neurons that mimic viruses and intrinsically activate innate immune signaling, which triggers neurodegeneration. This hypothesis is supported by the results shown herein elucidating the mechanism of neurodegeneration in two mouse lines that specifically express different isoforms of the human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) gene, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), exclusively in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the nose.

The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide having an anti-inflammatory activity, and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating an inflammatory disease, comprising the same.

Immunomodulating polynucleotides are disclosed. The immunomodulating polynucleotides may contain 5-modified uridine, 5-modified cytidine, a total of from 6 to 16 nucleotides, and/or one or more abasic spacers and/or internucleoside phosphotriesters. Also disclosed are conjugates containing a targeting moiety and one or more immunomodulating polynucleotides. The immunomodulating polynucleotides and conjugates may further contain one or more auxiliary moieties. Also disclosed are compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates containing one or more stereochemically enriched internucleoside phosphorothioates. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the immunomodulating polynucleotides or the conjugates and methods of their use.

Compositions and methods are provided that enable activation of innate immune responses through RIG-I like receptor signaling. The compositions and methods incorporate synthetic nucleic acid pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that comprise elements initially characterized in, and derived from, the hepatitis C virus genome.

The present invention relates to antisense of oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of FGF21.

Disclosed herein are three-dimensional cage molecules, wherein the cage molecule is composed of RNA. Also disclosed is a composition including the three-dimensional cage molecule, as well as a pharmaceutical composition containing the three-dimensional cage molecule. Also disclosed herein are methods of administering a cage molecule, composition, or formulation thereof to a subject in need thereof.

Described herein are immuno-stimulatory RNA nanostructures (which comprises a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) molecule, wherein the ssRNA molecule forms at least one paranemic cohesion crossover), as well as compositions and methods of use thereof.

A method for treating B-cell lymphoma in a subject that has been diagnosed as having a B-cell lymphoma characterized by a mutation in MYD88 and is in need of such treatment is presented. The lymphoma is treated with an oligonucleotide having a sequence 5′-(CCT)n-3′. The B-cell lymphoma may be activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM).

The present invention provides an antiviral agent comprising an RNA oligonucleotide having a particular sequence and structure. Specifically, when a cell line is treated with an RNA oligonucleotide having specific sequence and helical bend structure according to the present invention, the expression of interferon-β or ISG56 is increased and anti-viral activating is exhibited. Thus, a composition comprising the RNA oligonucleotide can be used as an antiviral agent.

Improved DNA vaccine plasmids are disclosed that contain novel immunostimulatory RNA compositions. The improved plasmids eliminate all extraneous sequences, incorporate a novel antibiotic free short RNA based selectable marker, increase eukaryotic expression using a novel chimeric promoter, improve yield and stability during bacterial production, and improve immunostimulation. These vectors are utilized in immunization to elicit improved immune responses or therapy to induce type 1 interferon production.