title: Biology of adeno-associated viral vectors in the central nervous system.
abstract: Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating a spectrum of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders by delivering corrective genes to the central nervous system (CNS). In particular, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have emerged as promising tools for clinical gene transfer in a broad range of genetic disorders with neurological manifestations. In the current review, we have attempted to bridge our understanding of the biology of different AAV strains with their transduction profiles, cellular tropisms, and transport mechanisms within the CNS. Continued efforts to dissect AAV-host interactions within the brain are likely to aid in the development of improved vectors for CNS-directed gene transfer applications in the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA ; Gene Therapy Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Giridhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murlidharan
authors.affiliation: Gene Therapy Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA ; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Samulski
authors.affiliation: Gene Therapy Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA ; Department of Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Aravind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asokan
keywords: adeno-associated virus (AAV); gene therapy; neurodegenerative diseases; neurological disorders; viral vectors