The present invention relates to G-quadruplex forming iso-RNA oligomers and a process for the preparation thereof. The present invention further relates to a stable, guanine rich 2′-5′-linked iso-RNA selected from 2′-5′-linked iso-RNA. The instant 2′-5′-linked isoRNA oligomer of the thrombin binding aptamer (iso-rTBA) is highly resistant to RNase A and also resistant to other nucleases, including snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD) and forms a thermally stable functional G-quadruplex.

Potassium ion sensing aptamers are disclosed. These aptamers have high specificity towards the potassium ion. Ligand-sensing aptamers with a built-in reporter are also disclosed. The built-in reporter is incorporated into the sugar-phosphate backbone of the aptamers. The built-in reporter may be an environmentally sensitive fluorescence dye, internally coupled to the aptamers. The environmentally sensitive fluorescence dye can sense the conformation changes induced by binding of the aptamers to the target ligand and transduces the conformational changes to a fluorescence change.

Provided is an aptamer including a polynucleotide of any of the following (a) to (c) and capable of binding to an HGF receptor to exhibit an activity of inhibiting the binding of HGF to the HGF receptor. (a) A polynucleotide consisting of a base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, (b) A polynucleotide consisting of a base sequence having the deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of one to several bases in the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and (c) A polynucleotide consisting of a base sequence having a sequence identity of 80% or more to the base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Materials and methods related to using short DNA aptamers to treat demyelinating diseases are provided herein.

Described herein are compositions that may be used to detect viral nucleic acid. For example, these compositions may comprise a DNA-nanostructure, a capture oligonucleotide and a protector oligonucleotide, wherein the components are designed based on a duo-toehold-mediated displacement reaction (duo-TMDR) strategy. In this strategy, a first TMDR can switch off a Faster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process and a second TMDR can release the target viral nucleic acid and amplify the signal. Methods of using such compositions are also provided herein.

The present disclosure provides compositions of matter, methods and instruments for nucleic acid-guided nickase/reverse transcriptase fusion editing in live cells. Editing efficiency is improved using fusion proteins (e.g., the nickase-RT fusion) that retain certain characteristics of nucleic acid-directed nucleases (e.g., the binding specificity and ability to cleave one or more DNA strands in a targeted manner) combined with reverse transcriptase activity. Editing cassettes are employed, comprising a gRNA and a repair template where the 3′ end of the repair template is protected from degradation.

Provided herein are compositions and methods involving nucleic acid nanostructures that can encapsulate cargo for use in, for example, therapeutic, diagnostic, and analytical applications. The nanostructures can have a plurality of interconnected subunits configured such that the nanostructures have a continuous torus-like structure with a closed three-dimensional cavity. Preferably, the nanostructure is a nucleic acid mazzocchio. The subunits are connected by linkers having defined lengths to constrain the nanostructure into the continuous torus-like shape. The closed three-dimensional cavity is of defined size to encapsulate any cargo of interest. Cargo can also be positioned in the open hole at the center of the nanostructure. The cargo can be a wide range of compounds including, for example, chemical drugs, small molecules, therapeutics, targeting agents, enzymes, dyes, and fluorescent molecules. As such, the disclosed nanostructures are suitable for delivery of one or more therapeutic, toxic, imaging, diagnostic, or prophylactic agents.

Compositions comprising optimized aptamers capable of specifically binding to a surface protein of Clostridium difficile spore are provided. A method for detecting, enriching, separating, and/or isolating Clostridium difficile spores is provided.

Systems and method for providing chaperone activity to a protein-containing compound is disclosed. The method includes selecting a nucleic acid based on one or more of the nucleic acid's particular properties and a specific sequence of the nucleic acid and applying the nucleic acid to a compound comprising one or more proteins to provide chaperone activity to the compound.

Systems and method for providing chaperone activity to a protein-containing compound is disclosed. The method includes selecting a nucleic acid based on one or more of the nucleic acid's particular properties and a specific sequence of the nucleic acid and applying the nucleic acid to a compound comprising one or more proteins to provide chaperone activity to the compound.