Disclosed herein are recombinant AAV variant (e.g., variant serotype 3B (AAV3B)) capsid proteins and variant capsid protein-containing viral particles with enhanced ability to transduce hepatic cells. Viral particles containing these capsid variants are capable of evading neutralization by the host humoral immune response. The recombinant AAV3B variant proteins and viral particles disclosed herein were identified from a variant AAV3B capsid library that was engineered by making substitutions in only the variable regions of the capsid. Some embodiments of the AAV3B capsid variants disclosed herein comprise the AAV3B-G3 variant and the AAV3B-E12 variant. Compositions of these variant AAV particles are provided that are useful for transducing and delivering therapeutic transgenes to cells, such as liver cells, and thus treat diseases and disorders pertaining to these cells.

Provided herein are variant adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid proteins having one or more modifications in amino acid sequence relative to a parental AAV capsid protein, which, when present in an AAV virion, confer increased infectivity of one or more types of retinal cells as compared to the infectivity of the retinal cells by an AAV virion comprising the unmodified parental AAV capsid protein. Also provided are recombinant AAV virions and pharmaceutical compositions thereof comprising a variant AAV capsid protein as described herein, methods of making these rAAV capsid proteins and virions, and methods for using these rAAV capsid proteins and virions in research and clinical practice, for example in, e.g., the delivery of nucleic acid sequences to one or more ceils of the retina for the treatment of retinal disorders and diseases.

Compositions for CDKL5 gene therapy are provided, as well as recombinant CDKL5 proteins. Such CDKL5 gene therapy compositions and/or recombinant CDKL5 proteins may incorporate cell-penetrating polypeptides and/or leader signal polypeptides. Also provided are methods of producing such gene therapy compositions and recombinant CDKL5 proteins, as well as pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, and uses of the gene therapy compositions and recombinant CDKL5 proteins.

The present invention provides a therapy for treating neuropathic pain by subpial administration of small quantities of a composition for spinal segment-specific upregulation of GAD65 (glutamatedecarboxylase) gene and VGAT (vesicular GABA transporter) gene, which is effective for induction of nociceptive effects by potentiating release of vesicular GABA from infected dorsal horn neurons into the synaptic cleft.

Provided herein are variant adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid proteins having one or more modifications in amino acid sequence relative to a parental AAV capsid protein, which, when present in an AAV virion, confer increased infectivity of one or more types of retinal cells as compared to the infectivity of the retinal cells by an AAV virion comprising the unmodified parental AAV capsid protein. Also provided are recombinant AAV virions and pharmaceutical compositions thereof comprising a variant AAV capsid protein as described herein, methods of making these rAAV capsid proteins and virions, and methods for using these rAAV capsid proteins and virions in research and clinical practice, for example in, e.g., the delivery of nucleic acid sequences to one or more ceils of the retina for the treatment of retinal disorders and diseases.

Disclosed herein are novel methods for administration of rAAV particles having enhanced transduction properties, comprising the pre-incubation and co-administration of AAV capsids and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The disclosed methods of rAAV particle administration have improved efficiency in transducing mammalian liver and hematopoetic cells in vivo. The disclosed methods are suitable for use with a variety of AAV capsid serotypes and presudotypes and improve vector potency, thus lowering the concentration of rAAV particle required to achieve the desired effect. Further disclosed herein are buffers for storage and manufacturing of rAAV particles comprising PVA.

The present disclosure provides, among other things, polynucleotide constructs, compositions, and methods of treating ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, including administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a polynucleotide construct comprising a 5′ UTR, a codon optimized mRNA encoding an ornithine transcarbamylase, and a 3′ UTR.

The disclosure relates to methods and materials for treating cancer. For example, recombinant vaccinia viruses having the ability to direct the expression of membrane-bound IL-12 polypeptides on the surface of infected cells and methods for using such recombinant vaccinia viruses to treat cancer are provided. Specifically, the disclosure provides a recombinant vaccinia virus comprising a vaccinia virus genome comprising a nucleic acid encoding an IL-12p35 polypeptide sequence and an IL-12p40 polypeptide sequence, wherein one of the polypeptide sequences comprises a membrane anchoring polypeptide sequence.

The present invention is in the field of immunotherapy, in particular tumor immunotherapy. The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations for delivering RNA to antigen presenting cells such as dendrite cells (DCs) in the spleen after systemic administration. In particular, the formulations described herein enable to induce an immune response after systemic administration of antigen-coding RNA.

Methods and compositions for tissue regeneration of the present invention include a biocompatible porous composite of a decellularized tissue and an aptamer-functionalized hydrogel, wherein the aptamers of the aptamer-functionalized hydrogel specifically and reversibly bind to an active agent.