Nematodes, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, that express mutant and wild-type orthologs of human genes involved in polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs), are used to study the functions of the proteins encoded by the genes, to screen for other genes involved in the diseases, to identify mutations involved in the diseases, and to screen for drugs that affect PKD. Behaviors controlled by the action of the genes or gene products are identified and used in the assays. Hence an animal model is provided that permits study of the etiology of polycystic kidney disease and provides a tool to identify the genes involved in the disease pathway, and to identify compounds that may be used to treat or alter the disease progression, lessen its severity or ameliorate symptoms. The nematode genes that encode protein products, mutants of the genes, vectors that contain the genes and mutant genes and nematode strains that contain the vectors are also provided.

Polycystic kidney disease gene homologs required for male mating behavior in nematodes and assays based thereon

There are provided DNA constructs, including replicable cloning vectors and expression vectors, comprising a bacteriophage promoter operably linked to an outron sequence. The expression vectors provided by the invention are useful in the expression of recombinant polypeptides in host cells or organisms and are particularly useful in expression of recombinant polypeptides in nematode worms such as C. elegans.

Gene expression system

Isolated peptides targeting cardiovascular disease are described herein or one or more conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions of such peptides and methods of use thereof for delivering payloads to specific cell types or tissues.

Target-specific delivery of therapeutic agents

Improved techniques for performing assays using nematode worms, such as nematode worms from the genus Caenorhabditis. The assays generally comprise exposing nematodes to at least one compound which paralyses or kills the nematodes.

Assay techniques using nematode worms

Nematodes, such as Caenorhabditis elegans , that express mutant and wild-type orthologs of human genes involved in polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs), are used to study the functions of the proteins encoded by the genes, to screen for other genes involved in the diseases, to identify mutations involved in the diseases, and to screen for drugs that affect PKD. Behaviors controlled by the action of the genes or gene products are identified and used in the assays. Hence an animal model is provided that permits study of the etiology of polycystic kidney disease and provides a tool to identify the genes involved in the disease pathway, and to identify compounds that may be used to treat or alter the disease progression, lessen its severity or ameliorate symptoms. The nematode genes that encode protein products, mutants of the genes, vectors contain the genes and mutant genes and nematode strains that contain the vectors are also provided.

Caenorhabditis elegans LOV-1 gene

The invention relates to a signal transduction pathway which promotes phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and in particular relates to a protein known as CED-6 in the nematode worm C. elegans, human equivalents of said protein and nucleic acids encoding them. The invention also relates to use of the proteins and encoding nucleic acids in assay methods for detecting compounds which enhance or inhibit the aforesaid signal transduction pathway and use of the proteins, nucleic acids and identified enhancer or inhibitor compounds in methods of treatment of human or animal disease.

Phagocytosis genes and uses thereof

The invention relates to a signal transduction pathway which promotes phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and in particular relates to a protein known as CED-6 in the nematode worm C. elegans , human equivalents of CED-6 protein and nucleic acids encoding them. The invention also relates to use of the proteins and encoding nucleic acids in assay methods for detecting compounds which enhance or inhibit the signal transduction pathway and use of the proteins, nucleic acids and identified enhancer or inhibitor compounds in methods of treatment of human or animal disease.

Qiong Liu

Papers

Phagocytosis genes and uses thereof

Engulfment gene and uses thereof