Modified viral genomes are able to reduce induction of inflammatory and immune anti-viral responses. This manifests itself in reduced NF-kB activity, increased viral transduction rates, and increased expression of transgenes. Viral genomes are modified by incorporating one or more oligonucleotide sequences which are able to bind to TLR9 but not induce activation of it. The oligonucleotide sequences may be synthetic, bacterial, human, or from any other source.

The present invention relates to RNA interference-based methods for inhibiting the expression of the DUX4 gene, a double homeobox gene on human chromosome 4q35. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses of the invention deliver DNAs encoding microRNAs that knock down the expression of DUX4. The methods have application in the treatment of muscular dystrophies such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of screening a human subject to determine if said subject has a genetic predisposition to develop, or is suffering from Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD), said method comprising: (a) providing a biological sample comprising genomic DNA from the subject; and (b) analyzing the portion of the genomic DNA in the sample corresponding to the distal D4Z4-pLAM region on chromosome 4 and determining the presence or absence of a polymorphism resulting in a functional polyadenylation sequence operationally linked to exon 3 of the DUX4 gene.

Modified viral genomes are able to reduce induction of inflammatory and immune antiviral responses. This manifests itself in reduced NF-kB activity, increased viral transduction rates, and increased expression of transgenes. Viral genomes are modified by incorporating one or more oligonucleotide sequences which are able to bind to TLR9 but not induce activation of it. The oligonucleotide sequences may be synthetic, bacterial, human, or from any other source.

Modified viral genomes are able to reduce induction of inflammatory and immune anti-viral responses. This manifests itself in reduced NF-kB activity, increased viral transduction rates, and increased expression of transgenes. Viral genomes are modified by incorporating one or more oligonucleotide sequences which are able to bind to TLR9 but not induce activation of it. The oligonucleotide sequences may be synthetic, bacterial, human, or from any other source.

The present invention relates to RNA interference-based methods for inhibiting the expression of the DUX4 gene, a double homeobox gene on human chromosome 4q35. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses of the invention deliver DNAs encoding microRNAs that knock down the expression of DUX4. The methods have application in the treatment of muscular dystrophies such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Modified viral genomes are able to reduce induction of inflammatory and immune anti-viral responses. This manifests itself in reduced NF-kB activity, increased viral transduction rates, and increased expression of transgenes. Viral genomes are modified by incorporating one or more oligonucleotide sequences which are able to bind to TLR9 but not induce activation of it. The oligonucleotide sequences may be synthetic, bacterial, human, or from any other source.

The present invention relates to RNA interference-based methods for inhibiting the expression of the DUX4 gene, a double homeobox gene on human chromosome 4q35. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses of the invention deliver DNAs encoding microRNAs that knock down the expression of DUX4. The methods have application in the treatment of muscular dystrophies such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

The present invention relates to RNA interference-based methods for inhibiting the expression of the DUX4 gene, a double homeobox gene on human chromosome 4q35. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses of the invention deliver DNAs encoding microRNAs that knock down the expression of DUX4. The methods have application in the treatment of muscular dystrophies such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

The present invention relates to RNA interference-based methods for inhibiting the expression of the DUX4 gene, a double homeobox gene on human chromosome 4q35. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses of the invention deliver DNAs encoding microRNAs that knock down the expression of DUX4. The methods have application in the treatment of muscular dystrophies such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.