Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the pinch force between a person's thumb and index finger, comprising: first and second parallel blades, said blades being disposed at a distance from one another and embedded at a first longitudinal end thereof; a sensor for measuring the pinch force exerted between the two blades at the second longitudinal end thereof, perpendicularly to the respective main planes thereof; a means for displaying the pinch force; and a means for storing and/or processing the pinch force. According to the invention, the first blade forms part of a rigid parallelepiped frame and the second blade is disposed in the space inside the parallelogram.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods, in particular to methods based on systemic administration of scAAV, for delivering genes to cells of the retina of mammals, and in particular to photoreceptor cells, ganglion cells, glial cells, inner nuclear layer cells or cells of the retinal pigmented epithelium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to improve the activity of engineered U7 snRNAs used in the context of RNA-based therapeutics; particularly in exon skipping, exon inclusion, and mRNA eradication strategies. The resulting modified U7 snRNAs are useful for treating neuromuscular diseases, in particular Duchenne neuromuscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy DM1 and spinal muscular atrophy.

Abstract: An isolated linear nucleic acid molecule comprising in this order: a first adeno-associated virus (AAV) inverted terminal repeat (ITR), a nucleotide sequence of interest and a second AAV ITR, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is devoid of AAV capsid protein coding sequences. The said nucleic acid molecule can be applied to a host at repetition without eliciting an immune response. Methods for producing and purifying this nucleic acid molecule, and use of the same for therapeutic purposes are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of target tissue penetration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector in a patient are provided. In some aspects, the methods involve inhibiting the interaction of the serum protein galectin 3 binding protein (G3BP) with AAV vector. Further provided are methods for reducing tissue distribution of a virus or for neutralizing a virus harbored by an organ destined for transplant, or newly transplanted, by administering a composition comprising G3BP.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through targeted spliceosome mediated simple or double trans-splicing. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with a target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) and to mediate a simple or double trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of a novel chimeric RNA molecule (chimeric RNA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to improve the activity of engineered U7 snRNAs used in the context of RNA-based therapeutics; particularly in exon skipping, exon inclusion, and mRNA eradication strategies. The resulting modified snRNAs are useful for treating neuromuscular diseases, in particular Duchenne neuromuscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy DM1 and spinal muscular atrophy.

Abstract: The present invention provided methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through targeted spliceosome mediated simple or double trans-splicing. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with a target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) and to mediate a simple or double trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of a novel chimeric RNA molecule (Chimeric RNA).

Abstract: Provided are tricyclo-DNA (tc-DNA) AON and methods employing tc-DNA AON for modifying splicing events that occur during pre-mRNA processing. Tricyclo-DNA (tc-DNA) AON are described that may be used to facilitate exon skipping or to mask intronic silencer sequences and/or terminal stem-loop sequences during pre-mRNA processing and to target RNase-mediated destruction of processed mRNA.