The present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating squamous cell carcinoma, the pharmaceutical composition containing a highly expressed lncRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HERES) expression inhibitor. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical composition which uses a HERES expression inhibitor to reduce the expression of HERES and affect Wnt signaling pathways, and thereby prevent or treat squamous cell carcinoma.

The present inventors discovered that the expression pattern of HERES is related to the onset of squamous cell carcinoma, and found that HERES can be a target for treating squamous cell carcinoma. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention was determined to have the effect of inhibiting the proliferation, metastasis, and the like of squamous cell carcinoma by containing the HERES expression inhibitor, and is thus expected to be advantageously used for preventing and treating or ameliorating squamous cell carcinoma.

The present invention refers to a method for the production of a catalytically active DNA molecule resulting in a significantly decreased amount of impurities in the catalytically active DNA molecule, to a catalytically active DNA molecule obtainable by such method and a pharmaceutical composition comprising such catalytically active DNA molecule as well as their use in a method for the prevention and/or treatment of a GATA-3-driven disease.

Methods of, inter alia, detecting the presence of one or more analytes in one or more query samples include providing one or more sensor that each include biomolecules disposed on a functionalized surface of one or more giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors. Modes of operation remove or add magnetic beads from the vicinity of sensor surfaces by interactions with the biomolecules. The methods feature, inter alia, detecting the presence of one or more analytes in one or more query samples by measuring magnetoresistance change of the one or more GMR sensors based on determining magnetoresistance before and after passing magnetic particles over the one or more sensors.

There is a method for selective translation of a desired protein. The method has the steps of (a) providing a modified nucleic acid enzyme, including two half cores of a minimized 9DB1 deoxyribozyme split between nucleotides 35 and 39, wherein each half core includes a pendant assembly arm of a strand of nucleic acids extending therefrom and a separate, pendant binding arm extending therefrom of a strand of nucleic acids; (b) binding a nucleic acid ligand to each of the two assembly arms to form an intermediate; (c) binding the intermediate to (i) a first substrate of ribonucleic acid sequences capped at one end, (ii) a second substrate of a strand of ribonucleic acids having a 5′ triphosphate region at one end and a region of polyadenylated nucleotides at the other end and wherein the second substrate codes for the desired protein, (iii) join the two half cores to form a core in order to form a ligated product; and (d) allowing the translation for the desired protein to proceed from the ligated product. There is another method for selective translation of a desired protein. There is also a modified nucleic acid enzyme.

The present invention relates to signalling catalytic nucleic acid nanostructures that are responsive to polymerase activity, methods of their use, devices and kits comprising the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalytic signalling nanostructure comprising a DNAzyme/RNAzyme, such as G-quadruplex hemin, and a polymerase—responsive element. Polymerase elongation of the polymerase-responsive element eliminates catalytic activity of the DNAzyme/RNAzyme. The catalytic nucleic acid nanostructure can be used alone or paired with a target recognition nanostructure which can transduce molecular signals into polymerase activity, in an integrated circuit.

A novel nucleic acid delivery system is provided containing a linear histidine-lysine rich cysteine-containing peptide bearing a targeting function, and a four branched histidine-lysine rich polypeptide. The delivery system includes a nucleic acid, such as an siRNA. The components form a nanoparticle complex through multiple non-covalent interactions between the phosphates of siRNA and histidine/lysine of the polypeptide, with reduced toxicity. The stable complex selectively delivers the genetic material to cells. The targeting function enhances the efficiency of the nucleic acid delivery and transfection.

Carrier molecules also are provided that have the ability to deliver a therapeutic molecule to a specific cell within a tissue in the body. The carrier molecule is modified with a targeting ligand capable of binding to specific receptors present or upregulated on the cell to be targeted. The therapeutic molecule is an siRNA, miRNA, or other oligonucleotide. The targeting moiety is a small molecule, peptide, or protein that shows an affinity for a receptor present on the cell to be targeted.

This disclosure relates to DNAzymes and biosensors for detecting pathogenic bacteria, and in particular, for detecting Legionella pneumophila. This disclosure also provides a method for detecting the presence of Legionella pneumophila in a test sample, comprising: a) contacting said test sample with the DNAzyme or biosensor described herein, wherein the DNAzyme comprises a detectable label; b) allowing cleavage of the DNAzyme if a target is present, thereby releasing the detectable label; and c) measuring a detectable signal if the portion of the DNAzyme comprising the detectable label is released, wherein the RNA cleavage activity of the DNAzyme is activated by a target from Legionella pneumophila.

The present disclosure relates to engineered nucleic acids that target CAG repeat sequences or viral polynucleotides. The present disclosure also relates to the uses of the engineered nucleic acids for treating polyglutamine diseases or a viral infection.

The present disclosure provides, in some aspects, nucleic acid-based molecular tools that enable the recording of molecular structure and soluble signals as well as the programmed assembly of molecular structures.

This disclosure relates to particles conjugated to therapeutic nucleic acids. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid comprises a sequence that catalytically cleaves RNA, e.g., DNAzyme or RNAzyme. In certain embodiments, the particles contain nucleic acids with both DNAzyme and/or RNAzyme and siRNA sequences. The cleaving nucleic acids optionally comprise a sequence functioning to hybridize to a target of interest and/or the particles are further conjugated to a targeting moiety. In certain embodiments, conjugated particles are used in the treatment or prevention of cancer or viral infections or bacterial infections. In certain embodiments, conjugated particles are used in detecting metal ions and other small molecule analytes.