Abstract: Currently, the circularization of small RNAs is broadly regarded as an obstacle in ligation-related assays and explicitly avoided while short lengths of linear RNA targets is broadly recognized as a factor limiting use of conventional primers in PCR-related assays. In contrast, the disclosed invention capitalizes on circularization of small RNA targets or their conjugates with oligonucleotide adapters. The circular RNA templates provide amplification of the target sequences via synthesis of multimer nucleic acids that can be either labeled for direct detection or subjected to PCR amplification and detection. Structure of small circular RNAs and corresponding multimeric nucleic acids provide certain advantages over current methods including flexibility in design of conventional RT and PCR primers as well as use of 5?-overlapping dimer-primers for efficient and sequence-specific amplification of short target sequences.

Abstract: Currently, the circularization of small RNAs is broadly regarded as an obstacle in ligation-related assays and explicitly avoided while short lengths of linear RNA targets is broadly recognized as a factor limiting use of conventional primers in PCR-related assays. In contrast, the disclosed invention capitalizes on circularization of small RNA targets or their conjugates with oligonucleotide adapters. The circular RNA templates provide amplification of the target sequences via synthesis of multimer nucleic acids that can be either labeled for direct detection or subjected to PCR amplification and detection. Structure of small circular RNAs and corresponding multimeric nucleic acids provide certain advantages over current methods including flexibility in design of conventional RT and PCR primers as well as use of 5?-overlapping dimer-primers for efficient and sequence-specific amplification of short target sequences.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include the production and use of chemically modified RNAi agents (e.g., shRNAs) in gene silencing applications. The chemically modified RNAi agents disclosed herein have reduced immunostimulatory activity, increased serum stability, or both, as compared to a corresponding RNAi agent not having the chemical modification. Compositions containing chemically modified RNAi agents according to aspects of the present invention (including pharmaceutical compositions) and kits containing the same are also provided.

Abstract: Currently, the circularization of small RNAs is broadly regarded as an obstacle in ligation-related assays and explicitly avoided while short lengths of linear RNA targets is broadly recognized as a factor limiting use of conventional primers in PCR-related assays. In contrast, the disclosed invention capitalizes on circularization of small RNA targets or their conjugates with oligonucleotide adapters. The circular RNA templates provide amplification of the target sequences via synthesis of multimer nucleic acids that can be either labeled for direct detection or subjected to PCR amplification and detection. Structure of small circular RNAs and corresponding multimeric nucleic acids provide certain advantages over current methods including flexibility in design of conventional RT and PCR primers as well as use of 5?-overlapping dimer-primers for efficient and sequence-specific amplification of short target sequences.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include the production and use of chemically modified RNAi agents (e.g., shRNAs) in gene silencing applications. The chemically modified RNAi agents disclosed herein have reduced immunostimulatory activity, increased serum stability, or both, as compared to a corresponding RNAi agent not having the chemical modification. Compositions containing chemically modified RNAi agents according to aspects of the present invention (including pharmaceutical compositions) and kits containing the same are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits that include small hairpin RNA (shRNA) useful for inhibition of gene expression, such as viral-mediated gene expression, are described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) that are useful for inhibition of viral-mediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein can be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs targetING the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits that include small hairpin RNA (shRNA) useful for inhibition of gene expression, such as viral-mediated gene expression, are described.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits that include small hairpin RNA (shRNA) useful for inhibition of gene expression, such as viral-mediated gene expression, are described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) that are useful for inhibition of viral-mediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein can be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs targetING the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

Abstract: Currently, the circularization of small RNAs is broadly regarded as an obstacle in ligation-related assays and explicitly avoided while short lengths of linear RNA targets is broadly recognized as a factor limiting use of conventional primers in PCR-related assays. In contrast, the disclosed invention capitalizes on circularization of small RNA targets or their conjugates with oligonucleotide adapters. The circular RNA templates provide amplification of the target sequences via synthesis of multimer nucleic acids that can be either labeled for direct detection or subjected to PCR amplification and detection. Structure of small circular RNAs and corresponding multimeric nucleic acids provide certain advantages over current methods including flexibility in design of conventional RT and PCR primers as well as use of 5?-overlapping dimer-primers for efficient and sequence-specific amplification of short target sequences.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include the production and use of chemically modified RNAi agents (e.g., shRNAs) in gene silencing applications. The chemically modified RNAi agents disclosed herein have reduced immunostimulatory activity, increased serum stability, or both, as compared to a corresponding RNAi agent not having the chemical modification. Compositions containing chemically modified RNAi agents according to aspects of the present invention (including pharmaceutical compositions) and kits containing the same are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) that are useful for inhibition of viral-mediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein can be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs targetING the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) that are useful for inhibition of viral-mediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein can be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs targetING the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits that include small hairpin RNA (shRNA) useful for inhibition of gene expression, such as viral-mediated gene expression, are described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) which are useful for inhibition of viralmediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein may be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs that target the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

Abstract: We describe new hybridization probes and methods for their use in detection, identification, and quantitation of polynucleotides such as RNA and DNA. Ordinary short oligonucleotide probes usually provide higher sequence-specificity but lower efficacy of hybridization than longer ordinary polynucleotide probes where both are fully complementary to the target polynucleotide. Our new polynucleotide probes combine the hybridization efficacy of long probes with the sequence-specificity of short probes. The polynucleotide probes contain a target binding domain and a binding enhancer domain, where the binding enhancer domain does not for stable structures under hybridizing conditions with the target binding domain or its corresponding target. These binding enhancer domains are able to improve the hybridization features of the target binding domain as well as the signal-to-noise ratio for target detection.

Abstract: A method is described for splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width, comprising positioning a bonding element between an overlapping end of the first length of photographic film and a corresponding overlapped end of the second length of photographic film, and heating the bonding element to effect an adhesive bond between such film ends, wherein the bonding element comprises an induction heating receptive support and thermoplastic adhesive layers on each side of the support, and wherein the heating of the bonding element is performed by induction heating. The present invention allows for the preparation of photographic film splices, consisting of either homogeneous or dissimilar film bases, using a bonding element and induction heating to provide smooth yet strong splices. In particular, the invention enables successful splicing of acetate support (e.g., cellulose triacetate (CTA)) based films and polyester support (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention describes the generation of site-directed RNA cleaving agents. These agents consist of RNA-binding proteins, or polypeptides derived thereof, which are modified to contain a moiety capable of cleaving RNA backbones. Alternatively, the agents are oligonucleotides having nuclease resistant backbones to which a moiety capable of cleaving RNA backbones has been attached. The present invention also describes a method of cleaving target RNA substrates using the cleaving agents described herein. Further, the invention describes a method for inhibiting RNA virus expression in infected cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acetate ester compound of formula (III), ##STR1## a process for synthesizing compound (III), and a process for using that compound to prepare a pyrazolone compound, where the substituent definitions are as defined in the Summary of the Invention.