Vector systems for prenatal gene therapy: principles of adeno-associated virus vector design and production

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:891:109-31. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-873-3_6.

Abstract

Vectors based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) show great promise for safe, efficacious therapeutic gene transfer in extensive pre-clinical data and, recently, in clinical trials. Careful vector design and choice from a range of natural or synthetic pseudotypes allow targeted, efficient, and sustained expression of therapeutic genes. The efficiency of gene delivery can be further enhanced through the use of drug pre-treatment or co-infection with a suitable helper virus. This chapter describes current best practice for AAV production, including complete methods for: (1) efficient generation of vector without the use of helper viruses, simplifying the transition to GMP-grade production for clinical applications; (2) efficient and easily scalable purification of the virus by affinity chromatography, allowing rapid production of highly concentrated, high titre stocks; (3) reliable quantification and assaying of viral stocks, along with short- and long-term storage considerations.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Phosphates / metabolism
  • Centrifugation, Density Gradient
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Dependovirus / isolation & purification
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / biosynthesis*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Polyethyleneimine / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prenatal Care / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rosaniline Dyes
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Rosaniline Dyes
  • Coomassie blue
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • calcium phosphate