A Novel Adenovirus—Adeno-Associated Virus Hybrid Vector That Displays Efficient Rescue and Delivery of the AAV Genome

Abstract

Adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV) are eukaryotic DNA viruses being developed as vectors for human gene therapy. The strengths of each system have been exploited in a novel vector that is based on an ade novirus–AAV hybrid virus incorporated into a plasmid-based molecular conjugate. Efficient rescue and replication of the recombinant AAV genome in this hybrid required transient expression of rep. This feature was incorporated into the transducing particle by conjugating a rep expression plasmid to the hybrid virus through a polylysine bridge. The resulting particle is an attractive vehicle for gene therapy because it is easily manufactured and capable of efficiently transducing cells with the end result being rescue and replication of the recombinant AAV genome. This particle is also useful in the production of recombinant AAV resulting in yields 10-fold greater than that achieved with transfection-based protocols.

Overview summary

A novel vector has been developed that represents a hybrid between adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV). This allows for high-level production of vector and efficient gene transfer. The AAV genome is rescued from the hybrid when rep is expressed. An in vivo transducing particle that contains all the necessary functions was constructed by chemically conjugating a rep-expressing plasmid to the hybrid virion.