The invention in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses useful for targeting transgenes to CNS tissue, and compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions for treating CNS-related disorders.

The present invention provides a novel method of treatment for treating brain disorders that manifest oxidative stress by providing targeted populations of neurons with the ability to catabolize the acetylated amino acid derivative, N-acetylaspatic acid (NAA) and further supply extraphysiological levels of ATP to neurons via the targeted expression of the NAA catabolic enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA) in neurons and astrocytes.

Disclosed herein are peptide sequences capable of directing adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to target specific environments, for example the nervous system and the heart, in a subject. Also disclosed are AAVs having non-naturally occurring capsid proteins comprising the disclosed peptide sequences, and methods of using the AAVs to treat diseases.

Provided are nucleic acid constructs, Toxoplasma comprising same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and methods using same for delivering a protein-of-interest to a tissue-of-interest of a subject, such as the CNS and further treating a pathology which is treatable by administration of a therapeutic polypeptide in a central nervous system of the subject.

Provided herein are methods of selective screening. In addition, various targeting proteins and sequences, as well as methods of their use, are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to compositions (e.g., nucleic acids, rAAV vectors, rAAVs, etc.) and methods for treating neurological diseases including Canavan disease. The disclosure is based, in part, on nucleic acids encoding an aspartoacylase (ASPA) operably linked to a mouse ASPA (mAspa) promoter. Aspects of the disclosure also provide methods of treating neurological diseases including Canavan disease by administering the nucleic acids to a subject.

In some aspects, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as leukodystrophies (e.g., Canavan Disease). In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering to a subject an N-acetylaspartate (NAA)-depleting agent or an N-acetylaspartate (NAA)-depleting agent based upon the subject's metabolic profile.

This disclosure provides methods for treating, ameliorating, or reversing at least one symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject by increasing the amount of neuronal aspartate in spinal cord through administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a nucleic acid encoding ASPA or a functional fragment thereof.

The present invention provides a novel method of treatment for treating brain disorders that manifest oxidative stress by providing targeted populations of neurons with the ability to catabolize the acetylated amino acid derivative, N-acetylaspatic acid (NAA) and further supply extraphysiological levels of ATP to neurons via the targeted expression of the NAA catabolic enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA) in neurons and astrocytes.

In some aspects, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as leukodystrophies (e.g., Canavan Disease). In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering to a subject an N-acetylaspartate (NAA)-depleting agent or an N-acetylaspartate (NAA)-depleting agent based upon the subject's metabolic profile.