Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach for treating coronavirus infections, particularly infections caused by MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Based on effectively targeting and cleaving single stranded RNA viruses, the present invention provides Cas13d guide RNAs, to guide the Cas13d protein to a target site in the genome of humanized Coronaviridae that is conserved between MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The disclosed invention further provides an AAV vector comprising such a Cas13d guide RNA expression cassette as well as a Cas13d for treating coronavirus infections, especially COVID-19 infections.

Abstract: Provided is a method of preventing, treating or delaying progression of a disease involving aberrant fibroblast proliferation. The method involves using a compound that reduces the level of tyrosine phosphatase activity effected by the protein EYA1A in the parenchymal organ, a nucleic acid ligase IV inhibitor, or an antisense oligonucleotide against the p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1).

Abstract: A method for re-expression of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO based on an inactivated CRISPR-based system and a DNA dioxygenase as well as a gRNA guiding the construct to the RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO gene for demethylation of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO, in particular, hypermethylated RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO promoter, thus, allowing re-expression of RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO for the treatment of fibrosis, cancer or neuronal disorders in a subject is provided. A kit of parts for allowing re-expression of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO in a subject, a vector or vector system, and nucleic acid constructs are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method of preventing, treating or delaying progression of a disease involving aberrant fibroblast proliferation. The method involves using a compound that reduces the level of tyrosine phosphatase activity effected by the protein EYA1A in the parenchymal organ, a nucleic acid ligase IV inhibitor, or an antisense oligonucleotide against the p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1).

Abstract: Provided is a method of preventing, treating or delaying progression of a disease involving aberrant fibroblast proliferation. The method involves using a compound that reduces the level of tyrosine phosphatase activity effected by the protein EYA1A in the parenchymal organ, a nucleic acid ligase IV inhibitor, or an antisense oligonucleotide against the p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention, treatment and/or delaying progression of chronic injury, progressive loss of functional parenchymal cells, or fibrosis of an organ. Specifically disclosed are agents for use in increasing homodimer-formation of ARNT in an organ in the prevention, treatment and/or delaying progression of chronic injury, progressive loss of functional parenchymal cells, or fibrosis of said organ, as further defined in the claims. In embodiments, said agent may be (i) an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, (ii) an inhibitor of the transcriptional repressor complex FKBP12/YY1, or (iii) an expression construct, which is capable of over-expressing ARNT in said organ, as well as combinations of (i), (ii), and/or (iii).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for re-expression of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO based on an inactivated CRISPR-based system and a DNA dioxygenase as well as a gRNA guiding said construct to the RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO gene for demethylation of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO, in particular, hypermethylated RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO promoter, thus, allowing re-expression of RASAL1, LRFN2, and KLOTHO for the treatment of fibrosis, cancer or neuronal disorders in a subject. Further, the present invention relates to a kit of parts for allowing re-expression of hypermethylated RASAL1, hypermethylated LRFN2, and hypermethylated KLOTHO in a subject comprising nucleic acid encoding the gRNA as defined above as well as a fusion protein of an inactive CRISPR based system and a DNA dioxygenase.