Polynucleotides and vectors can be used for the expression of a transgene in cells, such as liver cells. The expression of the transgene from the polynucleotides and vectors can be useful in gene therapy. Various methods can be used for expressing the transgene from the polynucleotides and vectors in liver cells.

The invention provides pluripotent cells that are used therapeutically for regenerating tissues but avoid rejection by subjects that receive them. In particular, the invention provides hypo-immunogenic pluripotent cells that avoid host immune rejection. The cells lack major immune antigens that trigger immune responses and are engineered to avoid phagocytic endocytosis. The invention further provides universally acceptable off-the-shelf pluripotent cells and derivatives thereof for generating or regenerating specific tissues and organs.

Polynucleotides and vectors can be used for the expression of a transgene in cells, such as liver cells. The expression of the transgene from the polynucleotides and vectors can be useful in gene therapy. Various methods can be used for expressing the transgene from the polynucleotides and vectors in liver cells.

The present invention relates to a non-human mammalian animal which has been modified to have in the blood, plasma and/or serum (a) an increased number of leukocytes and/or neutrophils, and (b) a reduced activity of the DNase 1 and/or DNase 1-like 3 enzymes. The non-human mammalian animal is particularly suitable for studying inflammation and/or a disease associated with inflammation. In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of the non-human mammalian animal as a model for identifying therapeutic or diagnostic targets of inflammation and/or a disease associated with inflammation. In a still further aspect, the invention relates the use of the non-human mammalian animal as a model for drug candidate testing. In addition, a method for testing an anti-inflammatory drug candidate against extracellular DNA is provided. Finally, a method for testing an anti-inflammatory drug candidate for modifying the formation or degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps is provided. In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a non-human mammalian animal, which has been modified to have an increased number of neutrophils in blood.

Described herein are methods and compositions relating to the treatment of a tumor (e.g., schwannoma) by increasing expression of Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and/or gasdermin D. In some embodiment, the increased expression is provided by means of a vector or construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and/or gasdermin D operably linked to a Schwann-lineage cell-specific promoter. In some embodiments, the vector is a viral vector.

The disclosure features compositions and methods for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss and auditory neuropathy, particularly forms of the disease that are associated with mutations in otoferlin (OTOF), by way of OTOF gene therapy. The disclosure provides a variety of compositions that include a first nucleic acid vector that contains a polynucleotide encoding an N-terminal portion of an OTOF protein and a second nucleic acid vector that contains a polynucleotide encoding a C-terminal portion of an OTOF protein. These vectors can be used to increase the expression of OTOF in a subject, such as a human subject suffering from sensorineural hearing loss.

Provided nucleic acid-based expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, within a target cell, including a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell. Also provided are formulations and systems, including fusogenic lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations and systems, for the delivery of nucleic acid-based expression constructs as well as methods for making and using such nucleic acid-based expression constructs, formulations, and systems for reducing, preventing, and/or eliminating the growth and/or survival of a cell, such as a senescent cell and/or a cancer cell, which is associated with aging, disease, or other condition as well as methods for the treatment of aging, disease, or other conditions by the in vivo administration of a formulation, such as a fusogenic LPN formulation, comprising an expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, in a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell.

The invention in some aspects relates to isolated nucleic acids, compositions, and kits useful for identifying adeno-associated viruses in cells. In some aspects, the invention provides kits and methods for producing somatic transgenic animal models using recombinant AAV (rAAV) to an animal having at least one transgene that expresses a small interfering nucleic acid or at least one binding site for a miRNA.

The invention in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses useful for targeting transgenes to CNS tissue, and compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating CNS-related disorders.

The invention in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses useful for targeting transgenes to CNS tissue, and compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating CNS-related disorders.