Mapping an Adeno-associated Virus 9-Specific Neutralizing Epitope To Develop Next-Generation Gene Delivery Vectors.

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors for treating rare diseases. However, significant barriers remain for the translation of these vectors into widely available therapies. In particular, exposure to the AAV capsid can generate an immune response of neutralizing antibodies. One approach to overcome this response is to map the AAV-specific neutralizing epitopes and rationally design an AAV capsid able to evade neutralization. To accomplish this, we isolated a monoclonal antibody against AAV9 following immunization of BALB/c mice and hybridoma screening. This antibody, PAV9.1, is specific for intact AAV9 capsids and has a high neutralizing titer of >1:160,000. We used cryo-electron microscopy to reconstruct PAV9.1 in complex with AAV9. We then mapped its epitope to the 3-fold axis of symmetry on the capsid, specifically to residues 496-NNN-498 and 588-QAQAQT-592. Capsid mutagenesis demonstrated that even a single amino acid substitution within this epitope markedly reduced binding and neutralization by PAV9.1. In addition, in vivo studies showed that mutations in the PAV9.1 epitope conferred a "liver-detargeting" phenotype to the mutant vectors, unlike AAV9, indicating that the residues involved in PAV9.1 interactions are also responsible for AAV9 tropism. However, we observed minimal changes in binding and neutralizing titer when we tested these mutant vectors for evasion of polyclonal sera from mice, macaques, or humans previously exposed to AAV. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the complexity of incorporating mapped neutralizing epitopes and previously identified functional motifs into the design of novel capsids able to evade immune response.IMPORTANCE Gene therapy utilizing viral vectors has experienced recent success, culminating in U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first adeno-associated virus vector gene therapy product in the United States: Luxturna for inherited retinal dystrophy. However, application of this approach to other tissues faces significant barriers. One challenge is the immune response to viral infection or vector administration, precluding patients from receiving an initial or readministered dose of vector, respectively. Here, we mapped the epitope of a novel neutralizing antibody generated in response to this viral vector to design a next-generation capsid to evade immune responses. Epitope-based mutations in the capsid interfered with the binding and neutralizing ability of the antibody but not when tested against polyclonal samples from various sources. Our results suggest that targeted mutation of a greater breadth of neutralizing epitopes will be required to evade the repertoire of neutralizing antibodies responsible for blocking viral vector transduction.

Deamidation of Amino Acids on the Surface of Adeno-Associated Virus Capsids Leads to Charge Heterogeneity and Altered Vector Function.

Post-translational modification of the adeno-associated virus capsids is a poorly understood factor in the development of these viral vectors into pharmaceutical products. Here we report the extensive capsid deamidation of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 and seven other diverse adeno-associated virus serotypes, with supporting evidence from structural, biochemical, and mass spectrometry approaches. The extent of deamidation at each site depended on the vector's age and multiple primary-sequence and three-dimensional structural factors. However, the extent of deamidation was largely independent of the vector recovery and purification conditions. We demonstrate the potential for deamidation to impact transduction activity and, moreover, correlate an early time point loss in vector activity to rapidly progressing spontaneous deamidation at several adeno-associated virus 8 asparagines. We explore mutational strategies that stabilize side-chain amides, improving vector transduction and reducing the lot-to-lot molecular variability that presents a key concern in biologics manufacturing. This study illuminates a previously unknown aspect of adeno-associated virus capsid heterogeneity and highlights its importance in the development of these vectors for gene therapy.

Vector design Tour de Force: integrating combinatorial and rational approaches to derive novel adeno-associated virus variants.

Methodologies to improve existing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy include either rational approaches or directed evolution to derive capsid variants characterized by superior transduction efficiencies in targeted tissues. Here, we integrated both approaches in one unified design strategy of "virtual family shuffling" to derive a combinatorial capsid library whereby only variable regions on the surface of the capsid are modified. Individual sublibraries were first assembled in order to preselect compatible amino acid residues within restricted surface-exposed regions to minimize the generation of dead-end variants. Subsequently, the successful families were interbred to derive a combined library of ~8 × 10(5) complexity. Next-generation sequencing of the packaged viral DNA revealed capsid surface areas susceptible to directed evolution, thus providing guidance for future designs. We demonstrated the utility of the library by deriving an AAV2-based vector characterized by a 20-fold higher transduction efficiency in murine liver, now equivalent to that of AAV8.

Structural characterization of H-1 parvovirus: comparison of infectious virions to empty capsids.

The structure of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) packaging H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV), which is being developed as an antitumor gene delivery vector, has been determined for wild-type (wt) virions and noninfectious (empty) capsids to 2.7- and 3.2-Å resolution, respectively, using X-ray crystallography. The capsid viral protein (VP) structure consists of an α-helix and an eight-stranded anti-parallel ß-barrel with large loop regions between the strands. The ß-barrel and loops form the capsid core and surface, respectively. In the wt structure, 600 nucleotides are ordered in an interior DNA binding pocket of the capsid. This accounts for ∼12% of the H-1PV genome. The wt structure is identical to the empty capsid structure, except for side chain conformation variations at the nucleotide binding pocket. Comparison of the H-1PV nucleotides to those observed in canine parvovirus and minute virus of mice, two members of the genus Parvovirus, showed both similarity in structure and analogous interactions. This observation suggests a functional role, such as in capsid stability and/or ssDNA genome recognition for encapsulation. The VP structure differs from those of other parvoviruses in surface loop regions that control receptor binding, tissue tropism, pathogenicity, and antibody recognition, including VP sequences reported to determine tumor cell tropism for oncotropic rodent parvoviruses. These structures of H-1PV provide insight into structural features that dictate capsid stabilization following genome packaging and three-dimensional information applicable for rational design of tumor-targeted recombinant gene delivery vectors.

Structural insights into adeno-associated virus serotype 5.

The adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) display differential cell binding, transduction, and antigenic characteristics specified by their capsid viral protein (VP) composition. Toward structure-function annotation, the crystal structure of AAV5, one of the most sequence diverse AAV serotypes, was determined to 3.45-Å resolution. The AAV5 VP and capsid conserve topological features previously described for other AAVs but uniquely differ in the surface-exposed HI loop between ßH and ßI of the core ß-barrel motif and have pronounced conformational differences in two of the AAV surface variable regions (VRs), VR-IV and VR-VII. The HI loop is structurally conserved in other AAVs despite amino acid differences but is smaller in AAV5 due to an amino acid deletion. This HI loop is adjacent to VR-VII, which is largest in AAV5. The VR-IV, which forms the larger outermost finger-like loop contributing to the protrusions surrounding the icosahedral 3-fold axes of the AAVs, is shorter in AAV5, creating a smoother capsid surface topology. The HI loop plays a role in AAV capsid assembly and genome packaging, and VR-IV and VR-VII are associated with transduction and antigenic differences, respectively, between the AAVs. A comparison of interior capsid surface charge and volume of AAV5 to AAV2 and AAV4 showed a higher propensity of acidic residues but similar volumes, consistent with comparable DNA packaging capacities. This structure provided a three-dimensional (3D) template for functional annotation of the AAV5 capsid with respect to regions that confer assembly efficiency, dictate cellular transduction phenotypes, and control antigenicity.

Phase 1 gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy using a translational optimized AAV vector.

Efficient and widespread gene transfer is required for successful treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here, we performed the first clinical trial using a chimeric adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid variant (designated AAV2.5) derived from a rational design strategy. AAV2.5 was generated from the AAV2 capsid with five mutations from AAV1. The novel chimeric vector combines the improved muscle transduction capacity of AAV1 with reduced antigenic crossreactivity against both parental serotypes, while keeping the AAV2 receptor binding. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase I clinical study in DMD boys, AAV2.5 vector was injected into the bicep muscle in one arm, with saline control in the contralateral arm. A subset of patients received AAV empty capsid instead of saline in an effort to distinguish an immune response to vector versus minidystrophin transgene. Recombinant AAV genomes were detected in all patients with up to 2.56 vector copies per diploid genome. There was no cellular immune response to AAV2.5 capsid. This trial established that rationally designed AAV2.5 vector was safe and well tolerated, lays the foundation of customizing AAV vectors that best suit the clinical objective (e.g., limb infusion gene delivery) and should usher in the next generation of viral delivery systems for human gene transfer.

Characterization of novel canine bocaviruses and their association with respiratory disease.

We report the first identification, genetic characterization and disease association studies of several novel species of canine bocaviruses (CBoV). Evolutionary analysis confirmed that CBoV are genetically distinct from the only other known canine bocavirus, minute virus of canines, with which they share less than 63, 62 and 64 % protein identity in NS, NP and VP genes, respectively. Comparative genetic analysis of 37 VP gene variants found in diseased and healthy animals showed that these novel viruses are genetically highly diverse and are common in canine respiratory infections that have remained undetected until now. Interestingly, we observed that a CBoV genotype with a unique deletion in the VP2 gene was significantly more prevalent in animals with respiratory diseases compared with healthy animals.

Amino acid substitutions at glutamate-354 in dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli lower the sensitivity of pyruvate dehydrogenase to NADH.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) of Escherichia coli is inhibited by NADH. This inhibition is partially reversed by mutational alteration of the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LPD) component of the PDH complex (E354K or H322Y). Such a mutation in lpd led to a PDH complex that was functional in an anaerobic culture as seen by restoration of anaerobic growth of a pflB, ldhA double mutant of E. coli utilizing a PDH- and alcohol dehydrogenase-dependent homoethanol fermentation pathway. The glutamate at position 354 in LPD was systematically changed to all of the other natural amino acids to evaluate the physiological consequences. These amino acid replacements did not affect the PDH-dependent aerobic growth. With the exception of E354M, all changes also restored PDH-dependent anaerobic growth of and fermentation by an ldhA, pflB double mutant. The PDH complex with an LPD alteration E354G, E354P or E354W had an approximately 20-fold increase in the apparent K(i) for NADH compared with the native complex. The apparent K(m) for pyruvate or NAD(+) for the mutated forms of PDH was not significantly different from that of the native enzyme. A structural model of LPD suggests that the amino acid at position 354 could influence movement of NADH from its binding site to the surface. These results indicate that glutamate at position 354 plays a structural role in establishing the NADH sensitivity of LPD and the PDH complex by restricting movement of the product/substrate NADH, although this amino acid is not directly associated with NAD(H) binding.

Production, purification, crystallization and structure determination of H-1 Parvovirus.

Crystals of H-1 Parvovirus (H-1PV), an antitumor gene-delivery vector, were obtained for DNA-containing capsids and diffracted X-rays to 2.7 Šresolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystals belonged to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=255.4, b=350.4, c=271.6 Å, ß=90.34°. The unit cell contained two capsids, with one capsid per crystallographic asymmetric unit. The H-1PV structure has been determined by molecular replacement and is currently being refined.

Engineering liver-detargeted AAV9 vectors for cardiac and musculoskeletal gene transfer.

We report the generation of a new class of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9)-derived vectors displaying selective loss of liver tropism and demonstrating potential for cardiac and musculoskeletal gene transfer applications. Random mutagenesis of residues within a surface-exposed region of the major AAV9 capsid protein yielded a capsid library with mutations clustered at the icosahedral threefold symmetry axis. Using a combination of sequence analysis, structural models, and in vivo screening, we identified several functionally diverse AAV9 variants. The latter were classified into three functional subgroups, with respect to parental AAV9 displaying: (i) decreased transduction efficiency across multiple tissues; (ii) a selective decrease in liver transduction, or (iii) a similar transduction profile. Notably, variants 9.45 and 9.61 (subgroup II) displayed 10- to 25-fold lower gene transfer efficiency in liver, while transducing cardiac and skeletal muscle as efficiently as AAV9. These results were further corroborated by quantitation of vector genome copies and histological analysis of reporter (tdTomato) gene expression. The study highlights the feasibility of generating AAV vectors with selectively ablated tissue tropism, which when combined with other targeting strategies could allow sharply segregated gene expression. Liver-detargeted AAV9 variants described herein are excellent candidates for preclinical evaluation in animal models of cardiac and musculoskeletal disease.