GFP Adeno-Associated Virus ( AAV-MO7T )

Successful targeting of gene vectors is crucial to improve the efficiency and safety of gene therapy, as it allows the transfer of genes to desired tissues. To achieve this goal, various attempts have been made to modify the viral capsid or envelope to enhance the interaction of viral particles with specific cell receptors. For example, adeno-associated virus (AAV), a parvovirus considered one of the most promising vectors for human gene therapy, can be used to alter its tropism through genetic capsid modification. This approach is based on the introduction of sequences that confer the ability to bind to specific cell receptors at appropriate sites in the cap gene. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that the insertion of an integrin-binding Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif at amino acid position 587 of the capsid protein VP enables AAV particles to infect cells via αVβ1 integrin. AAV-MO7T is derived from adeno-associated virus serotype 2. The capsid is specifically modified to enhance its targeting ability, particularly to tumor cells. One of the key modifications involves the insertion of the peptide sequence RGDTPTS at position I587 of the AAV2 capsid. Such insertions are designed to exploit specific interactions with receptors or other surface molecules that are often overexpressed or uniquely present on tumor cells, thereby increasing viral tropism and transduction efficiency for these malignancies.