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Guo J, Lin LF, Oraskovich SV, Rivera de Jesús JA, Listgarten J, Schaffer DV. Computationally guided AAV engineering for enhanced gene delivery. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:457-469. [PMID: 38531696 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Gene delivery vehicles based on adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are enabling increasing success in human clinical trials, and they offer the promise of treating a broad spectrum of both genetic and non-genetic disorders. However, delivery efficiency and targeting must be improved to enable safe and effective therapies. In recent years, considerable effort has been invested in creating AAV variants with improved delivery, and computational approaches have been increasingly harnessed for AAV engineering. In this review, we discuss how computationally designed AAV libraries are enabling directed evolution. Specifically, we highlight approaches that harness sequences outputted by next-generation sequencing (NGS) coupled with machine learning (ML) to generate new functional AAV capsids and related regulatory elements, pushing the frontier of what vector engineering and gene therapy may achieve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Guo
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Li F Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sydney V Oraskovich
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Julio A Rivera de Jesús
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jennifer Listgarten
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David V Schaffer
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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2
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Keiser NW, Cant E, Sitaraman S, Shoemark A, Limberis MP. Restoring Ciliary Function: Gene Therapeutics for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:821-835. [PMID: 37624733 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease characterized by defects in motile cilia, which play an important role in several organ systems. Lung disease is a hallmark of PCD, given the essential role of cilia in airway surface defense. Diagnosis of PCD is complicated due to its reliance on complex tests that are not utilized by every clinic and also its phenotypic overlap with several other respiratory diseases. Nonetheless, PCD is increasingly being recognized as more common than once thought. The disease is genetically complex, with several genes reported to be associated with PCD. There is no cure for PCD, but gene therapy remains a promising therapeutic strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, genetics, and current treatment regimens for PCD. We also describe PCD model systems and discuss the therapeutic potential of different gene therapeutics for targeting the intended cellular target, the ciliated cells of the airway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin Cant
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amelia Shoemark
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom
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3
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Dai L, Du L. Genes in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension and the most promising BMPR2 gene therapy. Front Genet 2022; 13:961848. [PMID: 36506323 PMCID: PMC9730536 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.961848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but progressive and lethal vascular disease of diverse etiologies, mainly caused by proliferation of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells in the pulmonary artery, and fibroblasts, which ultimately leads to right-heart hypertrophy and cardiac failure. Recent genetic studies of childhood-onset PAH report that there is a greater genetic burden in children than in adults. Since the first-identified pathogenic gene of PAH, BMPR2, which encodes bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2, a receptor in the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, was discovered, novel causal genes have been identified and substantially sharpened our insights into the molecular genetics of childhood-onset PAH. Currently, some newly identified deleterious genetic variants in additional genes implicated in childhood-onset PAH, such as potassium channels (KCNK3) and transcription factors (TBX4 and SOX17), have been reported and have greatly updated our understanding of the disease mechanism. In this review, we summarized and discussed the advances of genetic variants underlying childhood-onset PAH susceptibility and potential mechanism, and the most promising BMPR2 gene therapy and gene delivery approaches to treat childhood-onset PAH in the future.
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4
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Ramamurthy RM, Atala A, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Organoids and microphysiological systems: Promising models for accelerating AAV gene therapy studies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011143. [PMID: 36225917 PMCID: PMC9549755 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The FDA has predicted that at least 10-20 gene therapy products will be approved by 2025. The surge in the development of such therapies can be attributed to the advent of safe and effective gene delivery vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV). The enormous potential of AAV has been demonstrated by its use in over 100 clinical trials and the FDA’s approval of two AAV-based gene therapy products. Despite its demonstrated success in some clinical settings, AAV-based gene therapy is still plagued by issues related to host immunity, and recent studies have suggested that AAV vectors may actually integrate into the host cell genome, raising concerns over the potential for genotoxicity. To better understand these issues and develop means to overcome them, preclinical model systems that accurately recapitulate human physiology are needed. The objective of this review is to provide a brief overview of AAV gene therapy and its current hurdles, to discuss how 3D organoids, microphysiological systems, and body-on-a-chip platforms could serve as powerful models that could be adopted in the preclinical stage, and to provide some examples of the successful application of these models to answer critical questions regarding AAV biology and toxicity that could not have been answered using current animal models. Finally, technical considerations while adopting these models to study AAV gene therapy are also discussed.
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5
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McLachlan G, Alton EWFW, Boyd AC, Clarke NK, Davies JC, Gill DR, Griesenbach U, Hickmott JW, Hyde SC, Miah KM, Molina CJ. Progress in Respiratory Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:893-912. [PMID: 36074947 PMCID: PMC7615302 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prospect of gene therapy for inherited and acquired respiratory disease has energized the research community since the 1980s, with cystic fibrosis, as a monogenic disorder, driving early efforts to develop effective strategies. The fact that there are still no approved gene therapy products for the lung, despite many early phase clinical trials, illustrates the scale of the challenge: In the 1990s, first-generation non-viral and viral vector systems demonstrated proof-of-concept but low efficacy. Since then, there has been steady progress toward improved vectors with the capacity to overcome at least some of the formidable barriers presented by the lung. In addition, the inclusion of features such as codon optimization and promoters providing long-term expression have improved the expression characteristics of therapeutic transgenes. Early approaches were based on gene addition, where a new DNA copy of a gene is introduced to complement a genetic mutation: however, the advent of RNA-based products that can directly express a therapeutic protein or manipulate gene expression, together with the expanding range of tools for gene editing, has stimulated the development of alternative approaches. This review discusses the range of vector systems being evaluated for lung delivery; the variety of cargoes they deliver, including DNA, antisense oligonucleotides, messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and peptide nucleic acids; and exemplifies progress in selected respiratory disease indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerry McLachlan
- The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric W F W Alton
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - A Christopher Boyd
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nora K Clarke
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Davies
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah R Gill
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jack W Hickmott
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kamran M Miah
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Juarez Molina
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bauer A, Puglisi M, Nagl D, Schick JA, Werner T, Klingl A, El Andari J, Hornung V, Kessler H, Götz M, Grimm D, Brack‐Werner R. Molecular Signature of Astrocytes for Gene Delivery by the Synthetic Adeno-Associated Viral Vector rAAV9P1. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2104979. [PMID: 35398994 PMCID: PMC9165502 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202104979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes have crucial functions in the central nervous system (CNS) and are major players in many CNS diseases. Research on astrocyte-centered diseases requires efficient and well-characterized gene transfer vectors. Vectors derived from the Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) target astrocytes in the brains of rodents and nonhuman primates. A recombinant (r) synthetic peptide-displaying AAV9 variant, rAAV9P1, that efficiently and selectively transduces cultured human astrocytes, has been described previously. Here, it is shown that rAAV9P1 retains astrocyte-targeting properties upon intravenous injection in mice. Detailed analysis of putative receptors on human astrocytes shows that rAAV9P1 utilizes integrin subunits αv, β8, and either β3 or β5 as well as the AAV receptor AAVR. This receptor pattern is distinct from that of vectors derived from wildtype AAV2 or AAV9. Furthermore, a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide knockout screening revealed the involvement of several astrocyte-associated intracellular signaling pathways in the transduction of human astrocytes by rAAV9P1. This study delineates the unique receptor and intracellular pathway signatures utilized by rAAV9P1 for targeting human astrocytes. These results enhance the understanding of the transduction biology of synthetic rAAV vectors for astrocytes and can promote the development of advanced astrocyte-selective gene delivery vehicles for research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Bauer
- Institute of VirologyHelmholtz Center MunichNeuherberg85764Germany
| | - Matteo Puglisi
- Physiological GenomicsBiomedical Center (BMC)Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell ResearchHelmholtz Center MunichBiomedical Center (BMC)Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
| | - Dennis Nagl
- Gene Center and Department of BiochemistryLudwig‐Maximilians‐UniversitätMunich81377Germany
| | - Joel A Schick
- Institute of Molecular Toxicology and PharmacologyGenetics and Cellular Engineering GroupHelmholtz Center MunichNeuherberg85764Germany
| | - Thomas Werner
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics & Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Plant Development and Electron MicroscopyDepartment Biology IBiocenterLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
| | - Jihad El Andari
- BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg UniversityHeidelberg69120Germany
- Department of Infectious DiseasesVirologyMedical FacultyHeidelberg UniversityHeidelberg69120Germany
| | - Veit Hornung
- Gene Center and Department of BiochemistryLudwig‐Maximilians‐UniversitätMunich81377Germany
| | - Horst Kessler
- Institute for Advanced Study and Center of Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM)Department ChemieTechnische Universität MünchenGarching85748Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Physiological GenomicsBiomedical Center (BMC)Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
- Institute for Stem Cell ResearchHelmholtz Center MunichBiomedical Center (BMC)Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
- Excellence Cluster of Systems Neurology (SYNERGY)Munich81377Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg UniversityHeidelberg69120Germany
- Department of Infectious DiseasesVirologyMedical FacultyHeidelberg UniversityHeidelberg69120Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)Partner site HeidelbergHeidelberg69120Germany
| | - Ruth Brack‐Werner
- Institute of VirologyHelmholtz Center MunichNeuherberg85764Germany
- Department of Biology IILudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität (LMU)Planegg‐Martinsried82152Germany
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7
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Bisserier M, Sun XQ, Fazal S, Turnbull IC, Bonnet S, Hadri L. Novel Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Lung-Targeted Gene Transfer in the Most Common Respiratory Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:984. [PMID: 35326434 PMCID: PMC8947048 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, a better understanding of the genetic and molecular alterations underlying several respiratory diseases has encouraged the development of new therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy offers new therapeutic alternatives for inherited and acquired diseases by delivering exogenous genetic materials into cells or tissues to restore physiological protein expression and/or activity. In this review, we review (1) different types of viral and non-viral vectors as well as gene-editing techniques; and (2) the application of gene therapy for the treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, asthma, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, non-small-cell lung cancer, and COVID-19. Further, we also provide specific examples of lung-targeted therapies and discuss the major limitations of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Bisserier
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.B.); (S.F.); (I.C.T.)
| | - Xiao-Qing Sun
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Shahood Fazal
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.B.); (S.F.); (I.C.T.)
| | - Irene C. Turnbull
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.B.); (S.F.); (I.C.T.)
| | - Sébastien Bonnet
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre, Québec, QC G1V4G5, Canada;
- Department of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V4G5, Canada
| | - Lahouaria Hadri
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.B.); (S.F.); (I.C.T.)
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8
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Fakhiri J, Grimm D. Best of most possible worlds: Hybrid gene therapy vectors based on parvoviruses and heterologous viruses. Mol Ther 2021; 29:3359-3382. [PMID: 33831556 PMCID: PMC8636155 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvoviruses and especially the adeno-associated virus (AAV) species provide an exciting and versatile platform for the rational design or molecular evolution of human gene-therapy vectors, documented by literature from over half a century, hundreds of clinical trials, and the recent commercialization of multiple AAV gene therapeutics. For the last three decades, the power of these vectors has been further potentiated through various types of hybrid vectors created by intra- or inter-genus juxtaposition of viral DNA and protein cis elements or by synergistic complementation of parvoviral features with those of heterologous, prokaryotic, or eukaryotic viruses. Here, we provide an overview of the history and promise of this rapidly expanding field of hybrid parvoviral gene-therapy vectors, starting with early generations of chimeric particles composed of a recombinant AAV genome encapsidated in shells of synthetic AAVs or of adeno-, herpes-, baculo-, or protoparvoviruses. We then dedicate our attention to two newer, highly promising types of hybrid vectors created via (1) pseudotyping of AAV genomes with bocaviral serotypes and capsid mutants or (2) packaging of AAV DNA into, or tethering of entire vector particles to, bacteriophages. Finally, we conclude with an outlook summarizing critical requirements and improvements toward clinical translation of these original concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Fakhiri
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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9
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Jager MC, Tomlinson JE, Lopez-Astacio RA, Parrish CR, Van de Walle GR. Small but mighty: old and new parvoviruses of veterinary significance. Virol J 2021; 18:210. [PMID: 34689822 PMCID: PMC8542416 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01677-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In line with the Latin expression "sed parva forti" meaning "small but mighty," the family Parvoviridae contains many of the smallest known viruses, some of which result in fatal or debilitating infections. In recent years, advances in metagenomic viral discovery techniques have dramatically increased the identification of novel parvoviruses in both diseased and healthy individuals. While some of these discoveries have solved etiologic mysteries of well-described diseases in animals, many of the newly discovered parvoviruses appear to cause mild or no disease, or disease associations remain to be established. With the increased use of animal parvoviruses as vectors for gene therapy and oncolytic treatments in humans, it becomes all the more important to understand the diversity, pathogenic potential, and evolution of this diverse family of viruses. In this review, we discuss parvoviruses infecting vertebrate animals, with a special focus on pathogens of veterinary significance and viruses discovered within the last four years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason C Jager
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Joy E Tomlinson
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Robert A Lopez-Astacio
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Colin R Parrish
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Gerlinde R Van de Walle
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Puschhof J, Pleguezuelos-Manzano C, Martinez-Silgado A, Akkerman N, Saftien A, Boot C, de Waal A, Beumer J, Dutta D, Heo I, Clevers H. Intestinal organoid cocultures with microbes. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:4633-4649. [PMID: 34381208 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Adult-stem-cell-derived organoids model human epithelial tissues ex vivo, which enables the study of host-microbe interactions with great experimental control. This protocol comprises methods to coculture organoids with microbes, particularly focusing on human small intestinal and colon organoids exposed to individual bacterial species. Microinjection into the lumen and periphery of 3D organoids is discussed, as well as exposure of organoids to microbes in a 2D layer. We provide detailed protocols for characterizing the coculture with regard to bacterial and organoid cell viability and growth kinetics. Spatial relationships can be studied by fluorescence live microscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. Finally, we discuss considerations for assessing the impact of bacteria on gene expression and mutations through RNA and DNA sequencing. This protocol requires equipment for standard mammalian tissue culture, or bacterial or viral culture, as well as a microinjection device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Puschhof
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cayetano Pleguezuelos-Manzano
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Adriana Martinez-Silgado
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ninouk Akkerman
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aurelia Saftien
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Charelle Boot
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Amy de Waal
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joep Beumer
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Devanjali Dutta
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences (SV), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Inha Heo
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Beerse, Belgium
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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11
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Chis AA, Dobrea CM, Rus LL, Frum A, Morgovan C, Butuca A, Totan M, Juncan AM, Gligor FG, Arseniu AM. Dendrimers as Non-Viral Vectors in Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy. Molecules 2021; 26:5976. [PMID: 34641519 PMCID: PMC8512881 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been intensively studied as a promising new strategy of prodrug delivery, with its main advantages being represented by an enhanced efficacy and a reduced off-target toxicity of the active drug. In recent years, numerous therapeutic systems based on GDEPT strategy have entered clinical trials. In order to deliver the desired gene at a specific site of action, this therapeutic approach uses vectors divided in two major categories, viral vectors and non-viral vectors, with the latter being represented by chemical delivery agents. There is considerable interest in the development of non-viral vectors due to their decreased immunogenicity, higher specificity, ease of synthesis and greater flexibility for subsequent modulations. Dendrimers used as delivery vehicles offer many advantages, such as: nanoscale size, precise molecular weight, increased solubility, high load capacity, high bioavailability and low immunogenicity. The aim of the present work was to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances regarding the use of dendrimers as non-viral carriers in the GDEPT therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adina Frum
- Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 550169 Sibiu, Romania; (A.A.C.); (C.M.D.); (L.-L.R.); (A.B.); (M.T.); (A.M.J.); (F.G.G.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Claudiu Morgovan
- Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 550169 Sibiu, Romania; (A.A.C.); (C.M.D.); (L.-L.R.); (A.B.); (M.T.); (A.M.J.); (F.G.G.); (A.M.A.)
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12
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Luck R, Karakatsani A, Shah B, Schermann G, Adler H, Kupke J, Tisch N, Jeong HW, Back MK, Hetsch F, D'Errico A, De Palma M, Wiedtke E, Grimm D, Acker-Palmer A, von Engelhardt J, Adams RH, Augustin HG, Ruiz de Almodóvar C. The angiopoietin-Tie2 pathway regulates Purkinje cell dendritic morphogenesis in a cell-autonomous manner. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109522. [PMID: 34407407 PMCID: PMC9110807 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuro-vascular communication is essential to synchronize central nervous system development. Here, we identify angiopoietin/Tie2 as a neuro-vascular signaling axis involved in regulating dendritic morphogenesis of Purkinje cells (PCs). We show that in the developing cerebellum Tie2 expression is not restricted to blood vessels, but it is also present in PCs. Its ligands angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) are expressed in neural cells and endothelial cells (ECs), respectively. PC-specific deletion of Tie2 results in reduced dendritic arborization, which is recapitulated in neural-specific Ang1-knockout and Ang2 full-knockout mice. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing reveals that Tie2-deficient PCs present alterations in gene expression of multiple genes involved in cytoskeleton organization, dendritic formation, growth, and branching. Functionally, mice with deletion of Tie2 in PCs present alterations in PC network functionality. Altogether, our data propose Ang/Tie2 signaling as a mediator of intercellular communication between neural cells, ECs, and PCs, required for proper PC dendritic morphogenesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Luck
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andromachi Karakatsani
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Bhavin Shah
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Geza Schermann
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Heike Adler
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Janina Kupke
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Tisch
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hyun-Woo Jeong
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, and University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Michaela Kerstin Back
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Florian Hetsch
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Anna D'Errico
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), University of Frankfurt, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michele De Palma
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ellen Wiedtke
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amparo Acker-Palmer
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), University of Frankfurt, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jakob von Engelhardt
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, and University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Hellmut G Augustin
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Ruiz de Almodóvar
- European Center of Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.
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Abstract
Despite tight genetic compression, viral genomes are often organized into functional gene clusters, a modular structure that might favor their evolvability. This has greatly facilitated biotechnological developments such as the recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) systems for gene therapy. Following this lead, we endeavored to engineer the related insect parvovirus Junonia coenia densovirus (JcDV) to create addressable vectors for insect pest biocontrol. To enable safer manipulation of capsid mutants, we translocated the nonstructural (ns) gene cluster outside the viral genome. To our dismay, this yielded a virtually nonreplicable clone. We linked the replication defect to an unexpected modularity breach, as ns translocation truncated the overlapping 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the capsid transcript (vp). We found that the native vp 3' UTR is necessary for high-level VP production but that decreased expression does not adversely impact the expression of NS proteins, which are known replication effectors. As nonsense vp mutations recapitulate the replication defect, VP proteins appear to be directly implicated in the replication process. Our findings suggest intricate replication-encapsidation couplings that favor the maintenance of genetic integrity. We discuss possible connections with an intriguing cis-packaging phenomenon previously observed in parvoviruses whereby capsids preferentially package the genome from which they were expressed. IMPORTANCE Densoviruses could be used as biological control agents to manage insect pests. Such applications require an in-depth biological understanding and associated molecular tools. However, the genomes of these viruses remain difficult to manipulate due to poorly tractable secondary structures at their extremities. We devised a construction strategy that enables precise and efficient molecular modifications. Using this approach, we endeavored to create a split clone of Junonia coenia densovirus (JcDV) that can be used to safely study the impact of capsid mutations on host specificity. Our original construct proved to be nonfunctional. Fixing this defect led us to uncover that capsid proteins and their correct expression are essential for continued rolling-hairpin replication. This points to an intriguing link between replication and packaging, which might be shared with related viruses. This serendipitous discovery illustrates the power of synthetic biology approaches to advance our knowledge of biological systems.
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Shao L, Shen W, Wang S, Qiu J. Recent Advances in Molecular Biology of Human Bocavirus 1 and Its Applications. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:696604. [PMID: 34220786 PMCID: PMC8242256 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.696604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) was discovered in human nasopharyngeal specimens in 2005. It is an autonomous human parvovirus and causes acute respiratory tract infections in young children. HBoV1 infects well differentiated or polarized human airway epithelial cells in vitro. Unique among all parvoviruses, HBoV1 expresses 6 non-structural proteins, NS1, NS1-70, NS2, NS3, NS4, and NP1, and a viral non-coding RNA (BocaSR), and three structural proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3. The BocaSR is the first identified RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribed viral non-coding RNA in small DNA viruses. It plays an important role in regulation of viral gene expression and a direct role in viral DNA replication in the nucleus. HBoV1 genome replication in the polarized/non-dividing airway epithelial cells depends on the DNA damage and DNA repair pathways and involves error-free Y-family DNA repair DNA polymerase (Pol) η and Pol κ. Importantly, HBoV1 is a helper virus for the replication of dependoparvovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), in polarized human airway epithelial cells, and HBoV1 gene products support wild-type AAV replication and recombinant AAV (rAAV) production in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. More importantly, the HBoV1 capsid is able to pseudopackage an rAAV2 or rHBoV1 genome, producing the rAAV2/HBoV1 or rHBoV1 vector. The HBoV1 capsid based rAAV vector has a high tropism for human airway epithelia. A deeper understanding in HBoV1 replication and gene expression will help find a better way to produce the rAAV vector and to increase the efficacy of gene delivery using the rAAV2/HBoV1 or rHBoV1 vector, in particular, to human airways. This review summarizes the recent advances in gene expression and replication of HBoV1, as well as the use of HBoV1 as a parvoviral vector for gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liting Shao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Weiran Shen
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Shengqi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jianming Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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Prakoso D, Tate M, Blasio M, Ritchie R. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated therapeutics for diabetic cardiomyopathy - current and future perspectives. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 135:1369-1387. [PMID: 34076247 PMCID: PMC8187922 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes increases the prevalence of heart failure by 6-8-fold, independent of other comorbidities such as hypertension and coronary artery disease, a phenomenon termed diabetic cardiomyopathy. Several key signalling pathways have been identified that drive the pathological changes associated with diabetes-induced heart failure. This has led to the development of multiple pharmacological agents that are currently available for clinical use. While fairly effective at delaying disease progression, these treatments do not reverse the cardiac damage associated with diabetes. One potential alternative avenue for targeting diabetes-induced heart failure is the use of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) gene therapy, which has shown great versatility in a multitude of disease settings. AAV gene therapy has the potential to target specific cells or tissues, has a low host immune response and has the possibility to represent a lifelong cure, not possible with current conventional pharmacotherapies. In this review, we will assess the therapeutic potential of AAV gene therapy as a treatment for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darnel Prakoso
- Departments of Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Campus, Australia
| | - Mitchel Tate
- Departments of Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Campus, Australia
- Diabetes, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Miles J. De Blasio
- Departments of Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Campus, Australia
- Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Rebecca H. Ritchie
- Departments of Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Campus, Australia
- Diabetes, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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16
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Puschhof J, Pleguezuelos-Manzano C, Clevers H. Organoids and organs-on-chips: Insights into human gut-microbe interactions. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:867-878. [PMID: 34111395 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The important and diverse roles of the gut microbiota in human health and disease are increasingly recognized. The difficulty of inferring causation from metagenomic microbiome sequencing studies and from mouse-human interspecies differences has prompted the development of sophisticated in vitro models of human gut-microbe interactions. Here, we review recent advances in the co-culture of microbes with intestinal and colonic epithelia, comparing the rapidly developing fields of organoids and organs-on-chips with other standard models. We describe how specific individual processes by which microbes and epithelia interact can be recapitulated in vitro. Using examples of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, we highlight the advantages of each culture model and discuss current trends and future possibilities to build more complex co-cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Puschhof
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cayetano Pleguezuelos-Manzano
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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17
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Wagner HJ, Weber W, Fussenegger M. Synthetic Biology: Emerging Concepts to Design and Advance Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004018. [PMID: 33977059 PMCID: PMC8097373 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Three recent approvals and over 100 ongoing clinical trials make adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors the leading gene delivery vehicles in gene therapy. Pharmaceutical companies are investing in this small and nonpathogenic gene shuttle to increase the therapeutic portfolios within the coming years. This prospect of marking a new era in gene therapy has fostered both investigations of the fundamental AAV biology as well as engineering studies to enhance delivery vehicles. Driven by the high clinical potential, a new generation of synthetic-biologically engineered AAV vectors is on the rise. Concepts from synthetic biology enable the control and fine-tuning of vector function at different stages of cellular transduction and gene expression. It is anticipated that the emerging field of synthetic-biologically engineered AAV vectors can shape future gene therapeutic approaches and thus the design of tomorrow's gene delivery vectors. This review describes and discusses the recent trends in capsid and vector genome engineering, with particular emphasis on synthetic-biological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna J. Wagner
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichMattenstrasse 26Basel4058Switzerland
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 1Freiburg79104Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSSUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 18Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Wilfried Weber
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 1Freiburg79104Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSSUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 18Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichMattenstrasse 26Basel4058Switzerland
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 50Basel4056Switzerland
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18
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Chong ZX, Yeap SK, Ho WY. Transfection types, methods and strategies: a technical review. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11165. [PMID: 33976969 PMCID: PMC8067914 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfection is a modern and powerful method used to insert foreign nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells. The ability to modify host cells’ genetic content enables the broad application of this process in studying normal cellular processes, disease molecular mechanism and gene therapeutic effect. In this review, we summarized and compared the findings from various reported literature on the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of various transfection methods, type of transfected nucleic acids, transfection controls and approaches to assess transfection efficiency. With the vast choices of approaches available, we hope that this review will help researchers, especially those new to the field, in their decision making over the transfection protocol or strategy appropriate for their experimental aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Xiong Chong
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Swee Keong Yeap
- China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wan Yong Ho
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
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Abstract
Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) and HBoV2-4 infect children and immunocompromised individuals, resulting in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, respectively. Using cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction, the HBoV2 capsid structure was determined to 2.7 Å resolution at pH 7.4 and compared to the previously determined HBoV1, HBoV3, and HBoV4 structures. Consistent with previous findings, surface variable region (VR) III of the capsid protein VP3, proposed as a host tissue-tropism determinant, was structurally similar among the gastrointestinal strains HBoV2-4, but differed from HBoV1 with its tropism for the respiratory tract. Towards understanding the entry and trafficking properties of these viruses, HBoV1 and HBoV2 were further analyzed as species representatives of the two HBoV tropisms. Their cell surface glycan-binding characteristics were analyzed, and capsid structures determined to 2.5-2.7 Å resolution at pH 5.5 and 2.6, conditions normally encountered during infection. The data showed that glycans with terminal sialic acid, galactose, GlcNAc or heparan sulfate moieties do not facilitate HBoV1 or HBoV2 cellular attachment. With respect to trafficking, conformational changes common to both viruses were observed at low pH conditions localized to the VP N-terminus under the 5-fold channel, in the surface loops VR-I and VR-V and specific side-chain residues such as cysteines and histidines. The 5-fold conformational movements provide insight into the potential mechanism of VP N-terminal dynamics during HBoV infection and side-chain modifications highlight pH-sensitive regions of the capsid.IMPORTANCE Human bocaviruses (HBoVs) are associated with disease in humans. However, the lack of an animal model and a versatile cell culture system to study their life cycle limits the ability to develop specific treatments or vaccines. This study presents the structure of HBoV2, at 2.7 Å resolution, determined for comparison to the existing HBoV1, HBoV3, and HBoV4 structures, to enable the molecular characterization of strain and genus-specific capsid features contributing to tissue tropism and antigenicity. Furthermore, HBoV1 and HBoV2 structures determined under acidic conditions provide insight into capsid changes associated with endosomal and gastrointestinal acidification. Structural rearrangements of the capsid VP N-terminus, at the base of the 5-fold channel, demonstrate a disordering of a "basket" motif as pH decreases. These observations begin to unravel the molecular mechanism of HBoV infection and provide information for control strategies.
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Yu JC, Mietzsch M, Singh A, Jimenez Ybargollin A, Kailasan S, Chipman P, Bhattacharya N, Fakhiri J, Grimm D, Kapoor A, Kučinskaitė-Kodzė I, Žvirblienė A, Söderlund-Venermo M, McKenna R, Agbandje-McKenna M. Characterization of the GBoV1 Capsid and Its Antibody Interactions. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020330. [PMID: 33672786 PMCID: PMC7924616 DOI: 10.3390/v13020330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) has gained attention as a gene delivery vector with its ability to infect polarized human airway epithelia and 5.5 kb genome packaging capacity. Gorilla bocavirus 1 (GBoV1) VP3 shares 86% amino acid sequence identity with HBoV1 but has better transduction efficiency in several human cell types. Here, we report the capsid structure of GBoV1 determined to 2.76 Å resolution using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and its interaction with mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and human sera. GBoV1 shares capsid surface morphologies with other parvoviruses, with a channel at the 5-fold symmetry axis, protrusions surrounding the 3-fold axis and a depression at the 2-fold axis. A 2/5-fold wall separates the 2-fold and 5-fold axes. Compared to HBoV1, differences are localized to the 3-fold protrusions. Consistently, native dot immunoblots and cryo-EM showed cross-reactivity and binding, respectively, by a 5-fold targeted HBoV1 mAb, 15C6. Surprisingly, recognition was observed for one out of three 3-fold targeted mAbs, 12C1, indicating some structural similarity at this region. In addition, GBoV1, tested against 40 human sera, showed the similar rates of seropositivity as HBoV1. Immunogenic reactivity against parvoviral vectors is a significant barrier to efficient gene delivery. This study is a step towards optimizing bocaparvovirus vectors with antibody escape properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Chun Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Amriti Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Alberto Jimenez Ybargollin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Shweta Kailasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Paul Chipman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Nilakshee Bhattacharya
- Biological Science Imaging Resource, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
| | - Julia Fakhiri
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43220, USA;
| | - Indrė Kučinskaitė-Kodzė
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology of the Institute of Biotechnology of Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (I.K.-K.); (A.Ž.)
| | - Aurelija Žvirblienė
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology of the Institute of Biotechnology of Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (I.K.-K.); (A.Ž.)
| | | | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (J.C.Y.); (M.M.); (A.S.); (A.J.Y.); (S.K.); (P.C.); (R.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Maxeiner J, Sharma R, Amrhein C, Gervais F, Duda M, Ward J, Mikkelsen LF, Forster R, Malewicz M, Krishnan J. Genomics Integrated Systems Transgenesis (GENISYST) for gain-of-function disease modelling in Göttingen Minipigs. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2021; 108:106956. [PMID: 33609731 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2021.106956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Göttingen Minipigs show several anatomical, physiological, and pathogenetical similarities to humans and serve an important role in translational studies for example as large animal models of disease. In recent years, the number of transgenic Göttingen Minipigs models has increased, as advanced genetic techniques simplify the generation of animals with precisely tailored modifications. These modifications are designed to replicate genetic alterations responsible for human disease. In addition to serving as valuable large animal disease models, transgenic Göttingen Minipigs are also considered promising donors for xenotransplantation. Current technologies for generation of transgenic minipigs demand a long development and production time of typically 2-3 years. To overcome this limitation and expand the use of Göttingen Minipigs for disease modelling and drug testing, we developed the GENISYST (Genomics Integrated Systems Transgenesis) technology platform for rapid and efficient generation of minipigs based transgenic disease models. As proof of concept, we report the successful generation of transgenic minipigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in multiple disease-relevant tissues including liver, heart, kidney, lungs, and the central nervous system (CNS). Our data demonstrates the feasibility, efficiency, and utility of GENISYST for rapid one-step generation of transgenic minipigs for human disease modelling in drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Maxeiner
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Carolin Amrhein
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Maria Duda
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jonathan Ward
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Roy Forster
- Citoxlab France, BP563, 27000 Evreux, France.
| | - Michal Malewicz
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Jaya Krishnan
- Genome Biologics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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22
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Breaking the sound barrier: Towards next-generation AAV vectors for gene therapy of hearing disorders. Hear Res 2020; 413:108092. [PMID: 33268240 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the advances in transgenic animal technology and the advent of the next-generation sequencing era, over 120 genes causing hereditary hearing loss have been identified by now. In parallel, the field of human gene therapy continues to make exciting and rapid progress, culminating in the recent approval of several ex vivo and in vivo applications. Despite these encouraging developments and the growing interest in causative treatments for hearing disorders, gene therapeutic interventions in the inner ear remain in their infancy and await clinical translation. This review focuses on the adeno-associated virus (AAV), which nowadays represents one of the safest and most promising vectors in gene therapy. We first provide an overview of AAV biology and outline the principles of therapeutic gene transfer with recombinant AAV vectors, before pointing out major challenges and solutions for clinical translation including vector manufacturing and species translatability. Finally, we highlight seminal technologies for engineering and selection of next-generation "designer" AAV capsids, and illustrate their power and potential with recent examples of their application for inner ear gene transfer in animals.
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23
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Carneiro A, Lee H, Lin L, van Haasteren J, Schaffer DV. Novel Lung Tropic Adeno-Associated Virus Capsids for Therapeutic Gene Delivery. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:996-1009. [PMID: 32799685 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to identify mutations that underlie inherited genetic diseases combined with strides in the development of gene therapy vectors over the last three decades have culminated in the approval of several adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies. Genetic diseases that manifest in the lung such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and surfactant deficiencies, however, have so far proven to be elusive targets. Early clinical trials in CF using AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) achieved safety, but not efficacy endpoints; however, importantly, these studies provided critical information on barriers that need to be surmounted to translate AAV lung gene therapy toward clinical success. Bolstered with an improved understanding of AAV biology and more clinically relevant lung models, next-generation molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches have given rise to novel AAV capsid variants that offer improvements in transduction efficiency, immunological profile, and the ability to circumvent physical barriers in the lung such as mucus. This review discusses the principal limiting barriers to clinical success in lung gene therapy and focuses on novel engineered AAV capsid variants that have been developed to overcome those challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carneiro
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Hyuncheol Lee
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Joost van Haasteren
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - David V Schaffer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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24
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Vu A, McCray PB. New Directions in Pulmonary Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:921-939. [PMID: 32814451 PMCID: PMC7495918 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The lung has long been a target for gene therapy, yet efficient delivery and phenotypic disease correction has remained challenging. Although there have been significant advancements in gene therapies of other organs, including the development of several ex vivo therapies, in vivo therapeutics of the lung have been slower to transition to the clinic. Within the past few years, the field has witnessed an explosion in the development of new gene addition and gene editing strategies for the treatment of monogenic disorders. In this review, we will summarize current developments in gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and surfactant protein deficiencies. We will explore the different gene addition and gene editing strategies under investigation and review the challenges of delivery to the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Vu
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Paul B. McCray
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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25
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Meier AF, Fraefel C, Seyffert M. The Interplay between Adeno-Associated Virus and its Helper Viruses. Viruses 2020; 12:v12060662. [PMID: 32575422 PMCID: PMC7354565 DOI: 10.3390/v12060662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a small, nonpathogenic parvovirus, which depends on helper factors to replicate. Those helper factors can be provided by coinfecting helper viruses such as adenoviruses, herpesviruses, or papillomaviruses. We review the basic biology of AAV and its most-studied helper viruses, adenovirus type 5 (AdV5) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We further outline the direct and indirect interactions of AAV with those and additional helper viruses.
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26
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Impact of Natural or Synthetic Singletons in the Capsid of Human Bocavirus 1 on Particle Infectivity and Immunoreactivity. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.00170-20. [PMID: 32213611 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00170-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a parvovirus that gathers increasing attention due to its pleiotropic role as a pathogen and emerging vector for human gene therapy. Curiously, albeit a large variety of HBoV1 capsid variants has been isolated from human samples, only one has been studied as a gene transfer vector to date. Here, we analyzed a cohort of HBoV1-positive samples and managed to PCR amplify and sequence 29 distinct HBoV1 capsid variants. These differed from the originally reported HBoV1 reference strain in 32 nucleotides or four amino acids, including a frequent change of threonine to serine at position 590. Interestingly, this T590S mutation was associated with lower viral loads in infected patients. Analysis of the time course of infection in two patients for up to 15 weeks revealed a gradual accumulation of T590S, concurrent with drops in viral loads. Surprisingly, in a recombinant vector context, T590S was beneficial and significantly increased titers compared to that of T590 variants but had no major impact on their transduction ability or immunoreactivity. Additional targeted mutations in the HBoV1 capsid identified several residues that are critical for transduction, capsid assembly, or DNA packaging. Our new findings on the phylogeny, infectivity, and immunoreactivity of HBoV1 capsid variants improve our understanding of bocaviral biology and suggest strategies to enhance HBoV1 gene transfer vectors.IMPORTANCE The family of Parvoviridae comprises a wide variety of members that exhibit a unique biology and that are concurrently highly interesting as a scaffold for the development of human gene therapy vectors. A most notable example is human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1), which we and others have recently harnessed to cross-package and deliver recombinant genomes derived from another parvovirus, the adeno-associated virus (AAV). Here, we expanded the repertoire of known HBoV1 variants by cloning 29 distinct HBoV1 capsid sequences from primary human samples and by analyzing their properties as AAV/HBoV1 gene transfer vectors. This led to our discovery of a mutational hot spot at HBoV1 capsid position 590 that accumulated in two patients during natural infection and that lowers viral loads but increases vector yields. Thereby, our study expands our current understanding of HBoV1 biology in infected human subjects and concomitantly provides avenues to improve AAV/HBoV1 gene transfer vectors.
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27
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Emmanuel SN, Mietzsch M, Tseng YS, Smith JK, Agbandje-McKenna M. Parvovirus Capsid-Antibody Complex Structures Reveal Conservation of Antigenic Epitopes Across the Family. Viral Immunol 2020; 34:3-17. [PMID: 32315582 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2020.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The parvoviruses are small nonenveloped single stranded DNA viruses that constitute members that range from apathogenic to pathogenic in humans and animals. The infection with a parvovirus results in the generation of antibodies against the viral capsid by the host immune system to eliminate the virus and to prevent re-infection. For members currently either being developed as delivery vectors for gene therapy applications or as oncolytic biologics for tumor therapy, efforts are aimed at combating the detrimental effects of pre-existing or post-treatment antibodies that can eliminate therapeutic benefits. Therefore, understanding antigenic epitopes of parvoviruses can provide crucial information for the development of vaccination applications and engineering novel capsids able to escape antibody recognition. This review aims to capture the information for the binding regions of ∼30 capsid-antibody complex structures of different parvovirus capsids determined to date by cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction. The comparison of all complex structures revealed the conservation of antigenic regions among parvoviruses from different genera despite low sequence identity and indicates that the available data can be used across the family for vaccine development and capsid engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanan N Emmanuel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yu Shan Tseng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - James Kennon Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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28
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Engineering adeno-associated virus vectors for gene therapy. Nat Rev Genet 2020; 21:255-272. [DOI: 10.1038/s41576-019-0205-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 342] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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29
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Hoffmann MD, Aschenbrenner S, Grosse S, Rapti K, Domenger C, Fakhiri J, Mastel M, Börner K, Eils R, Grimm D, Niopek D. Cell-specific CRISPR-Cas9 activation by microRNA-dependent expression of anti-CRISPR proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:e75. [PMID: 30982889 PMCID: PMC6648350 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of CRISPR–Cas technologies brought a personalized and targeted treatment of genetic disorders into closer reach. To render CRISPR-based therapies precise and safe, strategies to confine the activity of Cas(9) to selected cells and tissues are highly desired. Here, we developed a cell type-specific Cas-ON switch based on miRNA-regulated expression of anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins. We inserted target sites for miR-122 or miR-1, which are abundant specifically in liver and cardiac muscle cells, respectively, into the 3′UTR of Acr transgenes. Co-expressing these with Cas9 and sgRNAs resulted in Acr knockdown and released Cas9 activity solely in hepatocytes or cardiomyocytes, while Cas9 was efficiently inhibited in off-target cells. We demonstrate control of genome editing and gene activation using a miR-dependent AcrIIA4 in combination with different Streptococcus pyogenes (Spy)Cas9 variants (full-length Cas9, split-Cas9, dCas9-VP64). Finally, to showcase its modularity, we adapted our Cas-ON system to the smaller and more target-specific Neisseria meningitidis (Nme)Cas9 orthologue and its cognate inhibitors AcrIIC1 and AcrIIC3. Our Cas-ON switch should facilitate cell-specific activity of any CRISPR–Cas orthologue, for which a potent anti-CRISPR protein is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike D Hoffmann
- Synthetic Biology Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Biotechnology (IPMB) and Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems (BioQuant), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sabine Aschenbrenner
- Synthetic Biology Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Biotechnology (IPMB) and Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems (BioQuant), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Stefanie Grosse
- Synthetic Biology Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Biotechnology (IPMB) and Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems (BioQuant), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Kleopatra Rapti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Claire Domenger
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Julia Fakhiri
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Manuel Mastel
- Synthetic Biology Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Biotechnology (IPMB) and Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems (BioQuant), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Kathleen Börner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Digital Health Center, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and Charité, Berlin 10178, Germany.,Health Data Science Unit, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,BioQuant Center and Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Dominik Niopek
- Synthetic Biology Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Biotechnology (IPMB) and Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems (BioQuant), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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30
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Tornabene P, Trapani I. Can Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors Deliver Effectively Large Genes? Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:47-56. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Tornabene
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Ivana Trapani
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
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31
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Krooss SA, Dai Z, Schmidt F, Rovai A, Fakhiri J, Dhingra A, Yuan Q, Yang T, Balakrishnan A, Steinbrück L, Srivaratharajan S, Manns MP, Schambach A, Grimm D, Bohne J, Sharma AD, Büning H, Ott M. Ex Vivo/In vivo Gene Editing in Hepatocytes Using "All-in-One" CRISPR-Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors with a Self-Linearizing Repair Template. iScience 2019; 23:100764. [PMID: 31887661 PMCID: PMC6941859 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.100764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors are considered efficient and safe gene delivery systems in gene therapy. We combined two guide RNA genes, Cas9, and a self-linearizing repair template in one vector (AIO-SL) to correct fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) deficiency in mice. The vector genome of 5.73 kb was packaged into VP2-depleted AAV particles (AAV2/8ΔVP2), which, however, did not improve cargo capacity. Reprogrammed hepatocytes were treated with AIO-SL.AAV2ΔVP2 and subsequently transplanted, resulting in large clusters of FAH-positive hepatocytes. Direct injection of AIO-SL.AAV8ΔVP2 likewise led to FAH expression and long-term survival. The AIO-SL vector achieved an ∼6-fold higher degree of template integration than vectors without template self-linearization. Subsequent analysis revealed that AAV8 particles, in contrast to AAV2, incorporate oversized genomes distinctly greater than 5.2 kb. Finally, our AAV8-based vector represents a promising tool for gene editing strategies to correct monogenic liver diseases requiring (large) fragment removal and/or simultaneous sequence replacement. Single AAV vector mediates efficient large fragment replacement in vivo and ex vivo Fah-corrected iHeps repopulate the liver of recipient mice Self-linearizing donor template enhances integration rate AAV2 and AAV8 reveal differences in packaging the oversized AIO-SL vector genome
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Alexander Krooss
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany; Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Zhen Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Schmidt
- Bioquant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alice Rovai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia Fakhiri
- Bioquant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Center for Infectious Diseases/Virology, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Akshay Dhingra
- Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Qinggong Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Taihua Yang
- Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Asha Balakrishnan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lars Steinbrück
- Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Michael Peter Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute for Experimental Hematology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Bioquant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Hannover, Germany; Center for Infectious Diseases/Virology, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens Bohne
- Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Amar Deep Sharma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Junior Research Group MicroRNA in Liver Regeneration, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute for Experimental Hematology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Ott
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany.
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32
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Tulalamba W, Weinmann J, Pham QH, El Andari J, VandenDriessche T, Chuah MK, Grimm D. Distinct transduction of muscle tissue in mice after systemic delivery of AAVpo1 vectors. Gene Ther 2019; 27:170-179. [PMID: 31624368 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-019-0106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The human musculature is a promising and pivotal target for human gene therapy, owing to numerous diseases that affect this tissue and that are often monogenic, making them amenable to treatment and potentially cure on the genetic level. Particularly attractive would be the possibility to deliver clinically relevant DNA to muscle tissue from a minimally invasive, intravenous vector delivery. To date, this aim has been approximated by the use of Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) of different serotypes (rh.74, 8, 9) that are effective, but unfortunately not specific to the muscle and hence not ideal for use in patients. Here, we have thus studied the muscle tropism and activity of another AAV serotype, AAVpo1, that was previously isolated from pigs and found to efficiently transduce muscle following direct intramuscular injection in mice. The new data reported here substantiate the usefulness of AAVpo1 for muscle gene therapies by showing, for the first time, its ability to robustly transduce all major muscle tissues, including heart and diaphragm, from peripheral infusion. Importantly, in stark contrast to AAV9 that forms the basis for ongoing clinical gene therapy trials in the muscle, AAVpo1 is nearly completely detargeted from the liver, making it a very attractive and potentially safer option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warut Tulalamba
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Research Division, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 10700, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jonas Weinmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Drug Discovery Sciences, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88400, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Quang Hong Pham
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jihad El Andari
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thierry VandenDriessche
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Marinee K Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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33
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Miah KM, Hyde SC, Gill DR. Emerging gene therapies for cystic fibrosis. Expert Rev Respir Med 2019; 13:709-725. [PMID: 31215818 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2019.1634547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) remains a life-threatening genetic disease, with few clinically effective treatment options. Gene therapy and gene editing strategies offer the potential for a one-time CF cure, irrespective of the CFTR mutation class. Areas covered: We review emerging gene therapies and gene delivery strategies for the treatment of CF particularly viral and non-viral approaches with potential to treat CF. Expert opinion: It was initially anticipated that the challenge of developing a gene therapy for CF lung disease would be met relatively easily. Following early proof-of-concept clinical studies, CF gene therapy has entered a new era with innovative vector designs, approaches to subvert the humoral immune system and increase gene delivery and gene correction efficiencies. Developments include integrating adenoviral vectors, rapamycin-loaded nanoparticles, and lung-tropic lentiviral vectors. The characterization of novel cell types in the lung epithelium, including pulmonary ionocytes, may also encourage cell type-specific targeting for CF correction. We anticipate preclinical studies to further validate these strategies, which should pave the way for clinical trials. We also expect gene editing efficiencies to improve to clinically translatable levels, given advancements in viral and non-viral vectors. Overall, gene delivery technologies look more convincing in producing an effective CF gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran M Miah
- a Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- a Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- a Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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34
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Mietzsch M, Pénzes JJ, Agbandje-McKenna M. Twenty-Five Years of Structural Parvovirology. Viruses 2019; 11:E362. [PMID: 31010002 PMCID: PMC6521121 DOI: 10.3390/v11040362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvoviruses, infecting vertebrates and invertebrates, are a family of single-stranded DNA viruses with small, non-enveloped capsids with T = 1 icosahedral symmetry. A quarter of a century after the first parvovirus capsid structure was published, approximately 100 additional structures have been analyzed. This first structure was that of Canine Parvovirus, and it initiated the practice of structure-to-function correlation for the family. Despite high diversity in the capsid viral protein (VP) sequence, the structural topologies of all parvoviral capsids are conserved. However, surface loops inserted between the core secondary structure elements vary in conformation that enables the assembly of unique capsid surface morphologies within individual genera. These variations enable each virus to establish host niches by allowing host receptor attachment, specific tissue tropism, and antigenic diversity. This review focuses on the diversity among the parvoviruses with respect to the transcriptional strategy of the encoded VPs, the advances in capsid structure-function annotation, and therapeutic developments facilitated by the available structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Judit J Pénzes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Trapani I. Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors as a Tool for Large Gene Delivery to the Retina. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10040287. [PMID: 30970639 PMCID: PMC6523333 DOI: 10.3390/genes10040287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors currently represents the most promising approach for the treatment of many inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), given AAV's ability to efficiently deliver therapeutic genes to both photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, and their excellent safety and efficacy profiles in humans. However, one of the main obstacles to widespread AAV application is their limited packaging capacity, which precludes their use from the treatment of IRDs which are caused by mutations in genes whose coding sequence exceeds 5 kb. Therefore, in recent years, considerable effort has been made to identify strategies to increase the transfer capacity of AAV vectors. This review will discuss these new developed strategies, highlighting the advancements as well as the limitations that the field has still to overcome to finally expand the applicability of AAV vectors to IRDs due to mutations in large genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Trapani
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy.
- Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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