Provided is a system for regulating expression of a gene of interest in a target cell, including a recombinant first RNA molecule with (i) a coding sequence for a translation-suppressor protein and (ii) a first microRNA (miR) recognition element in its 3 UTR, wherein the first miR recognition element recognizes a first miR and binding of a first miR to the first miR recognition element reduces translation of the translation suppressor, and a recombinant second RNA molecule, with (i) a coding sequence for the gene of interest, (ii) a recognition sequence for the translation-suppressor, wherein binding of the translation-suppressor to the recognition sequence for the translation-suppressor reduces translation of the gene of interest, and, optionally, (iii) a second miR recognition element in its 3 UTR, wherein the second miR recognition element recognizes one or more second miR and binding of one or more of the one or more second miR to the second miR recognition element reduces translation of the gene of interest. Also provided are methods of using the system.

The subject invention provides materials and method for making a recessive gene dominant. This is accomplished by interfering with the natural mechanisms that inhibit expression of the recessive gene and/or by interfering with the expression of the naturally dominant gene. In a preferred embodiment, the method of the subject invention comprises both reducing inhibition of expression of the recessive gene and increasing inhibition of the dominant gene.

The invention provides adeno-associated virus (AAV) replication (Rep) sequences. In one embodiment, the invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding a chimeric protein, wherein the encoded chimeric protein contains a wild type AAV Rep inhibitory amino acid sequence, and wherein the nucleotide sequences contain a scrambled and/or deoptimized polynucleotide sequence encoding the wild type AAV Rep inhibitory amino acid sequence. The invention provides vectors, cells, and viruses containing the invention's sequences. Also provided are methods for detecting portions of the AAV Rep inhibitory amino acid sequence, which reduce replication and/or infection and/or productive infection by viruses. The invention's compositions and methods are useful for site-specific integration and/or expression of heterologous sequences by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors and by rAAV virus particles, such as hybrid viruses (e.g., Ad-AAV) comprising such vectors. The invention's compositions and methods find application in, for example, gene therapy and/or vaccines.

The invention in some aspects relates to isolated nucleic acids, compositions, and kits useful for identifying adeno-associated viruses in cells. In some aspects, the invention provides kits and methods for producing somatic transgenic animal models using recombinant AAV (rAAV) to an animal having at least one transgene that expresses a small interfering nucleic acid or at least one binding site for a miRNA.

An mRNA forcibly expresses a protein gene in response to a miRNA, and a method for forcibly expressing the same, are provided. An artificial mRNA comprising a sequence encoding a protein gene, a miRNA target sequence linked to the 3-terminal side of a Poly A sequence, and a translational repression sequence linked to the 3-terminal side of the miRNA target sequence; and a method for expressing a protein gene in response to the expression of a miRNA, comprising a step of introducing the artificial mRNA into a cell.

This disclosure provides modified cytosine deaminases(CDs). The disclosure further relates to cells and vector expressing or comprising such modified CDs and methods of using such modified CDs in the treatment of disease and disorders.

The invention in some aspects relates to isolated nucleic acids, compositions, and kits useful for identifying adeno-associated viruses in cells. In some aspects, the invention provides kits and methods for producing somatic transgenic animal models using recombinant AAV (rAAV) to an animal having at least one transgene that expresses a small interfering nucleic acid or at least one binding site for a miRNA.

Engineered synthetic RNA-based genetic circuits are provided that are regulated exclusively at the post-transcriptional level.

Disclosed herein are protein translation switches and conditional gene expression systems that are compatible with retroviral and lentiviral gene delivery. The linking of a protein translation switch to a 3 gene of interest suppresses translation of the gene of interest, and the alteration of the protein translation switch by DNA recombinase-mediated DNA recombination relieves the suppressed translation of the 3 gene of interest. Also disclosed herein are methods of mimicking clinical pharmacology in a pre-clinical setting.

The invention in some aspects relates to isolated nucleic acids, compositions, and kits useful for identifying adeno-associated viruses in cells. In some aspects, the invention provides kits and methods for producing somatic transgenic animal models using recombinant AAV (rAAV) to an animal having at least one transgene that expresses a small interfering nucleic acid or at least one binding site for a miRNA.