Universal real-time PCR for the detection and quantification of adeno-associated virus serotype 2-derived inverted terminal repeat sequences.

Viral vectors based on various naturally occurring adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes are among the most promising tools in human gene therapy. For the production of recombinant AAV (rAAV) vectors, researchers are focusing predominantly on cross-packaging an artificial AAV genome based on serotype 2 (AAV2) into capsids derived from other serotypes. Within the packaged genome the inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) are the only cis-acting viral elements required for rAAV vector generation and depict the lowest common denominator of all AAV2-derived vector genomes.

Development of adenovirus hybrid vectors for Sleeping Beauty transposition in large mammals.

The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase system for somatic integration offers great potential for in vivo gene therapeutic applications and genome engineering. Until recently, however, efficacy of SB transposase as a gene transfer vector especially in large animals was lacking. Herein, we report about the newest viral vector development for delivery of the SB transposase system into large mammals.

Hyperactive sleeping beauty transposase enables persistent phenotypic correction in mice and a canine model for hemophilia B.

Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase enables somatic integration of exogenous DNA in mammalian cells, but potency as a gene transfer vector especially in large mammals has been lacking. Herein, we show that hyperactive transposase system delivered by high-capacity adenoviral vectors (HC-AdVs) can result in somatic integration of a canine factor IX (cFIX) expression-cassette in canine liver, facilitating stabilized transgene expression and persistent haemostatic correction of canine hemophilia B with negligible toxicity. We observed stabilized cFIX expression levels during rapid cell cycling in mice and phenotypic correction of the bleeding diathesis in hemophilia B dogs for up to 960 days.

A rapid protocol for construction and production of high-capacity adenoviral vectors.

High-capacity adenoviral vectors (HC-AdVs) lacking all viral coding sequences were shown to result in long-term transgene expression and phenotypic correction in small and large animal models. It has been established that HC-AdVs show significantly reduced toxicity profiles compared with early-generation adenoviral vectors. Furthermore, with capsid-modified HC-AdV becoming available, we are just starting to understand the full potential of this vector system.