Adeno associated virus is a virus associated with Adenovirus. Note that it is not an adenovirus. It is commonly called AAV. It cannot replicate on its own, it requires a cell to be co-infected with Adenovirus in order to replicate. In the absence of co-infection with Adenovirus, the AAV goes into a latent phase. It then incorporates its DNA into genome of host cell into a specific site on 19th chromosome. This latent phase makes AAV attractive for gene therapy applications as a gene of interest in AAV can persist in the host cell genome for a long period. AAV is a small parvovirus, its wildtype genome is 4.7kb. The upper limit for its use in gene therapy applications is about 4.4kb.

Type 2

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Studies have shown that a serotype of the virus, called AAV-2 apparently kills cancer cells without harming healthy ones. "Our results suggest that adeno-associated virus type 2, which infects the majority of the population but has no known ill effects, kills multiple types of cancer cells yet has no effect on healthy cells," said Craig Meyers, a professor of immunology and microbiology at the Penn State College of Medicine in Pennsylvania.^* This could lead to a new anti-cancer agent.

References

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• http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/G/GeneTherapy2.html

Applied genetics | Oncology | Viruses