The present disclosure relates to gene therapy targeting GluK2 subunit that can be used to inhibit epileptiform discharges. Short interfering RNA sequences against the human Grik2 gene sequence are described which are efficient in decreasing the expression of GluK2-containing KARs in neurons engineered to express the equivalent shRNA or miRNA. Using a tissue culture model of TLE, the examples remarkably demonstrate that viral expression of shRNA or miRNA inhibits the frequency of epileptiform discharges. Therefore, RNA therapeutics aimed at decreasing the expression of GluK2-containing KARs in neurons can remarkably prevent spontaneous epileptiform discharges in TLE. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a recombinant antisense oligonucleotide that targets a Grik2 mRNA. The present disclosure also relates to a method for treating epilepsy in a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises: administering an effective amount of a vector comprising an oligonucleotide encoding an inhibitory RNA that binds (e.g., hybridizes) specifically to Grik2 mRNA and inhibits expression of Grik2 in the subject.

The invention relates to methods, kits, and compositions for reducing the level of or eliminating a nucleic acid vector in situ. The invention encompasses compositions and methods for selectively eradicating nucleic acid vectors in the microbiota using packaged phagemids. The microbiota can be intestinal and the packaged phagemids can be administered orally. The phagemid encodes a nuclease or other enzyme that genetically modifies the nucleic acid vector so that the nucleic acid vector can be inactivated or eliminated.

The present disclosure relates to a PD-1 variant having improved binding affinity to PD-L1. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a method for preparing the PD-1 variant and a method for screening the PD-1 variant. The PD-1 variant of the present disclosure effectively inhibits the binding between wild-type PD-1 and PD-L1, and thus is expected to have significantly higher penetration ability and anticancer effect by immune cells or therapeutic effect for infectious diseases as compared to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors. At the same time, the possibility of immunogenicity can be minimized. In addition, the convenience of developing biomedicine may be promoted through aglycosylation.

Provided herein are a method for producing ergothionine, comprising N (α)-trimethyl histidine and an oxidative sulfurizing enzyme mutant. With the mutant enzyme's help, the conversion rate is higher than 30% with the mutant enzyme amount of 8000/g substrate in 24 hours. Disclosed are a nucleic acid encoding the mutant enzyme, an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid, an expressing host comprising the nucleic acid or the expression vector, and the use of the mutant enzyme EanB for producing the ergothioneine.

The disclosure provides adenosine deaminases that are capable of deaminating adenosine in DNA. The disclosure also provides fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 (e.g., a Cas9 nickase) domain and adenosine deaminases that deaminate adenosine in DNA. In some embodiments, the fusion proteins further comprise a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and/or an inhibitor of base repair, such as, a nuclease dead inosine specific nuclease (dISN).

Described herein are methods and vectors for rational, multiplexed manipulation of chromosomes within open reading frames (e.g., in protein libraries) or any segment of a chromosome in a cell or population of cells, in which various CRISPR systems are used.

The invention provides a single-stranded oligonucleotide represented by the formula [Xz-Lx].sub.m-X-Y-[Ly-Yz].sub.n, wherein X is represented by Xa-Xb, Xa is coupled with Y, and Xb and Y hybridize. Xa is composed of 1 to 40 nucleotides and contains at least one modified-nucleotide. Xb is composed of 4 to 40 nucleotides and contains at least one modified-nucleotide. Y is composed of 4 to 40 nucleotides and contains at least one ribonucleotide. Xz and Yz are composed of 5 to 40 nucleotides and contain at least one modified-nucleotide. Nucleotide sequences X, Xz and Yz have an antisense sequence capable of hybridizing with a target RNA. Lx and Ly are composed of 0 to 20 nucleotides.

The disclosure provides for a targeting transfer RNA (ttRNA) that that suppresses nonsense mutations in messenger RNA, that comprises an anticodon sequence that binds to a stop codon and a variable loop sequence that comprises an RNA aptamer that has strong binding affinity to an RNA binding protein; and methods of use thereof.

Formulations of substances comprising at least one RNA stabilizing substance and at least one substance comprising RNA or based on RNA and methods of using the formulations to improve the storage and use stability of substances comprising RNA or based on RNA.

Provided herein are analogs of unnatural nucleotides bearing predominantly hydrophobic nucleobase analogs that form unnatural base pairs during DNA polymerase-mediated replication of DNA or RNA polymerase-mediated transcription of RNA. In this manner, the unnatural nucleobases can be introduced in a site-specific way into oligonucleotides (single or double stranded DNA or RNA), where they can provide for site-specific cleavage, or can provide a reactive linker than can undergo functionalization with a cargo-bearing reagent by means of reaction with a primary amino group or by means of click chemistry with an alkyne group of the unnatural nucleobase linker.