AAV2 Virus-Like Particles (Empty Capsids)

AAV2, which stands for adeno-associated virus serotype 2, is one of the best characterized and most commonly used serotypes of adeno-associated virus (AAV) for gene therapy applications. AAV is a small, non-enveloped virus belonging to the family Parvoviridae. It is known for its ability to infect both dividing and non-dividing cells and for its apathogenicity, meaning that it does not cause disease in humans, which makes it a suitable candidate for delivering therapeutic genes.

AAV2 virus-like particles are empty capsids of AAV serotype 2 that do not contain any genomic material. AAV2 VLPs are highly similar to wild-type VLPs in terms of structural organization. Their outer protein coat consists of the viral capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3, which are similar to the structure in naturally occurring AAV2. This structural mimicry ensures that AAV2 VLPs retain the ability to be recognized and processed by cellular machinery, similar to live AAV2 particles. However, due to the lack of genomic material, these VLPs are not infectious, a property that significantly increases their safety in various applications. These empty capsids are increasingly important in various biomedical applications, ranging from gene therapy vectors to vaccine development and molecular biology research.