The invention involves a method for modulating leukocyte activity, comprising delivering to a leukocyte a vector containing nucleic acid molecule(s), whereby the leukocyte contains Cas9 and the vector expresses one or more RNAs to guide the Cas9 to introduce mutations in one or more target genetic loci in the leukocyte, thereby modulating expression of one or more genes expressed in the leukocyte. The invention also involves identifying genes associated with leukocyte responses and experimental modeling of aberrant leukocyte activation and diseases associated with leukocytes by introducing mutations into leukocytes. The invention comprehends testing putative treatments with such models, e.g., testing putative chemical compounds that may be pharmaceutically relevant for treatment or gene therapy that may be relevant for treatment, or combinations thereof. The invention allows for the study of genetic diseases and putative treatments to better understand and alleviate leukocyte associated diseases.

The invention provides eukaryotic cell-based screening methods to identify an aptamer that specifically binds a ligand, or a ligand that specifically binds an aptamer, using a polynucleotide cassette for the regulation of the expression of a reporter gene where the polynucleotide cassette contains a riboswitch in the context of a 5′ intron-alternative exon-3′ intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and an aptamer such that when the aptamer binds a ligand, reporter gene expression occurs.

The invention is directed to methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides direction on biomolecules or cells living or fixed. In some embodiments, template-free enzymatic synthesis is implemented under biological conditions with successive cycles of (i) enzymatic addition of a 3′-O-blocked nucleoside triphosphate and (ii) enzymatic deblocking of the incorporated nucleotide to regenerate a free 3′ hydroxyl. The invention has applications in single-cell cDNA library construction and analysis.

Provided are a method for identifying functional elements of a genomic sequence and a library used for identifying functional elements of a genomic sequence.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for enriching a sample for nucleic acids of interest relative to nucleic acids targeted for depletion, comprising using differences in nucleotide modification between the nucleic acids of interest and the nucleic acids targeted for depletion.

Provided herein are libraries of scaffolds derived from riboswitches and small ribozymes and their methods of use. The scaffolds of the invention yield aptamers that are easily identified and characterized by virtue of the structural scaffold. The nature of the scaffold predisposes these RNAs for coupling to readout domains to engineer biosensors that function in vitro and in vivo. Biosensors, synthetic RNA agents and synthetic DNA agents, and their methods of use, are also provided.

Methods and compositions of single tube preparation of sequencing libraries from a target DNA are provided. The methods include contacting the DNA with a composition comprising Cas9 endonuclease, a first and a second guide RNAs, a ligase, and sequencing adapters, subjecting the composition to thermal cycling to cleave the DNA at the sites flanking the regions of interest by the RNA guided endonuclease, and subjecting the composition to a temperature to allow ligation of the cleaved DNA fragments including the regions of interest with the sequencing adapters to generate the sequencing libraries.

The present inventions generally relate to site-specific delivery of nucleic acid modifiers and includes novel DNA-binding proteins and effectors that can be rapidly programmed to make site-specific DNA modifications. The present inventions also provide synthetic all-in-one genome editor (SAGE) systems comprising designer DNA sequence readers and a set of small molecules that induce double-strand breaks, enhance cellular permeability, inhibit NHEJ and activate HDR, as well as methods of using and delivering such systems.

Systems and methods for rapid diagnostics related to the use of CRISPR effector systems and optimized guide sequences, including multiplex lateral flow diagnostic devices and methods of use, are provided.

This invention describes a novel CRISPR/Cas9 target identification platform permitting the discovery of novel genes and pathways involved in the ability of T cells and NK cells to react against and generate an anti-tumor response.