Abstract: Methods for producing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) particles include: an expansion phase including increasing the number of cells in at least one culture vessel containing culture medium; introducing into the cells a first polynucleotide sequence including a transgene flanked by AAV inverted terminal repeats, and optionally a second polynucleotide sequence including AAV rep and cap genes, and/or a third polynucleotide sequence including one or more helper genes; a production phase including culturing the cells into which the one or more polynucleotide sequences were introduced and adding calcium (Ca) ions (i.e., salts of Ca2+) to the production phase culture medium; and isolating the rAAV particles.

Abstract: System and methods for injection into a cavity are provided. In some embodiments, an injection system includes an injection assembly comprising a syringe barrel defining a lumen between proximal and distal ends and a second sealing element moveably disposed within the lumen to dispense an injection agent from an injection chamber defined in the syringe barrel. A puncture element delivers the injection agent into a space in a tissue. The tissue is less permeable to the injection agent than the space. The injection system also includes a support platform to support the injection assembly and anchor it relative to a site of injection, a drive assembly to operate the injection assembly, one or more sensors to monitor one or more forces on the injection assembly, and a controller in communication with the one or more sensors to receive information about the one or more forces on the injection system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides polynucleotide constructs for the modulation of target gene expression by aptamer-mediated ribonuclease cleavage of the target gene RNA and methods of using the constructs to modulate gene expression in response to the presence or absence of a ligand that binds the aptamer. The polynucleotide constructs contains a ribonuclease substrate sequence (e.g., an RNase P substrate) and a riboswitch comprising an effector region and an aptamer such that when the aptamer binds a ligand, target gene expression occurs.

Abstract: The invention provides polynucleotide constructs for the regulation of gene expression by aptamer-based modulation of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP)-mediated suppression of polyadenylation and methods of using the constructs to regulate gene expression in response to the presence or absence of a ligand that binds the aptamer. The polynucleotide construct contains a U1 binding site in the context of a riboswitch comprising an effector region and an aptamer such that when the aptamer binds a ligand, target gene expression occurs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for elevating and stabilizing retromer for treating and/or preventing Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, the disclosure relates to adenoviral based therapy for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs or prion disease), multiple system atrophy (MSA), Down's syndrome, and hereditary spastic paraplegia, as well as tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), frontotemporal lobar dementia linked to chromosome 17q21-22 and its subtypes (FTLD-17/FTLD-Tau), Lewy Body Disease (LBD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontal-temporal degeneration (FTD), ALS-FTD, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Abstract: The invention provides polynucleotide constructs for the regulation of gene expression by aptamer-based modulation of self-cleaving ribozymes and methods of using the constructs to regulate gene expression in response to the presence or absence of a ligand that binds the aptamer. The invention further provides methods for making and using riboswitches that decrease target gene expression in response to an aptamer ligand as well as riboswitches that increase target gene expression in response to an aptamer ligand.

Abstract: The invention provides eukaryotic cell-based screening methods to identify an aptamer that specifically binds a ligand, or a ligand that specifically binds an aptamer, using a polynucleotide cassette for the regulation of the expression of a reporter gene where the polynucleotide cassette contains a riboswitch in the context of a 5? intron-alternative exon-3? intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and an aptamer such that when the aptamer binds a ligand, reporter gene expression occurs.

Abstract: The invention provides a platform and methods of using the platform for the regulation of the expression of a target gene using exposure to an aptamer ligand (for example, a small molecule). The platform features a polynucleotide gene regulation cassette that is placed in the target gene and includes a synthetic riboswitch positioned in the context of a 5? intron-alternative exon-3? intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and a sensor region (e.g., an aptamer that binds a small molecule ligand) such that the alternative exon is spliced into the target gene mRNA when the ligand is not present thereby preventing expression of the target gene. When the ligand is present, the alternative exon is not spliced into the target gene mRNA thereby providing expression of the target gene.

Abstract: The invention provides eukaryotic cell-based screening methods to identify an aptamer that specifically binds a ligand, or a ligand that specifically binds an aptamer, using a polynucleotide cassette for the regulation of the expression of a reporter gene where the polynucleotide cassette contains a riboswitch in the context of a 5? intron-alternative exon-3? intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and an aptamer such that when the aptamer binds a ligand, reporter gene expression occurs.

Abstract: The invention provides a platform and methods of using the platform for the regulation of the expression of a target gene using exposure to an aptamer ligand (for example, a small molecule). The platform features a polynucleotide gene regulation cassette that is placed in the target gene and includes a synthetic riboswitch positioned in the context of a 5? intron-alternative exon-3? intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and a sensor region (e.g., an aptamer that binds a small molecule ligand) such that the alternative exon is spliced into the target gene mRNA when the ligand is not present thereby preventing expression of the target gene. When the ligand is present, the alternative exon is not spliced into the target gene mRNA thereby providing expression of the target gene.