A NOVEL ADENOVIRUS-ADENO-ASSOCIATED VIRUS HYBRID VECTOR THAT DISPLAYSEFFICIENT RESCUE AND DELIVERY OF THE AAV GENOME

Adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV) are eukaryotic DNA viruses being developed as vectors for human gene therapy. The strengths of e ach system have been exploited in a novel vector that is based on an a denovirus-AAV hybrid virus incorporated into a plasmid-based molecular conjugate. Efficient rescue and replication of the recombinant AAV ge nome in this hybrid required transient expression of rep. This feature was incorporated into the transducing particle by conjugating a rep e xpression 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 A AV genome. This particle is also useful in the production of recombina nt AAV resulting in yields 10-fold greater than that achieved with tra nsfection-based protocols.