This disclosure provides compositions and methods for altering or changing the tissue tropism, e.g., liver tropism, of adeno-associated viruses (AAV).

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.

Disclosed herein are engineered AAV VP capsid polypeptides with the ability to assemble into virus particles and having improved tissue tropism to, for example, CNS tissues. The capsids are engineered using the high throughput discovery system described herein. In certain embodiments, provided herein are recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) VP capsid polypeptides having at least one mutation in a residue corresponding to residue 581 to residue 589 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods of restoring or enhancing visual function in an individual by administering to the individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector having a polynucleotide sequence that encodes a medium wavelength cone opsin (MW-opsin). The MW-opsin is expressed in a retinal cell in the individual, thereby restoring or enhancing visual function.

Disclosed herein include adeno-associated virus (AAV) acoustic targeting peptides. An AAV comprising the AAV acoustic targeting peptide can exhibit increased transduction at site(s) of focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO), increased neuronal tropism, and diminished transduction of peripheral organs. Disclosed herein include recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) comprising an AAV acoustic targeting peptide disclosed herein. Also provided herein include methods of delivering an agent to one or more target brain region(s) of a subject.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to compositions and methods for expressing anti-Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) agent in a cell or subject. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides rAAVs comprising a capsid protein (e.g., AAV2 variants, AAV2/3 hybrid variants, AAV8 variants, etc.), and a transgene encoding an anti-VEGF agent (e.g., KH902) and one or more regulatory sequences. In some embodiments, compositions described herein are useful for treating subjects having diseases associated with angiogenesis or aberrant VEGF activity/signaling.

The disclosure in some aspects relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses having distinct tissue targeting capabilities. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to gene transfer methods using the recombinant adeno-associated viruses. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to isolated AAV capsid proteins and isolated nucleic acids encoding the same.

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.

A recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) comprising an AAVhu68 capsid and a vector genome comprising a lysosomal beta-galactosidase gene (for example, galactosidase beta 1 gene, GBL1) is provided (i.e., rAAVhu68.GBL1). Also provided a composition containing an effective amount of rAAVhu68.GBL1 to ameliorate symptoms of GM1 gangliosidosis, including, e.g., increased average life span, decreased need for feeding tube, reduction in seizure incidence and frequency, reduction in progression towards neurocognitive decline and/or improvement in neurocognitive development.

Provided herein are novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids, compositions (e.g., rAAV) comprising the capsids, and nucleic acids encoding the capsids. Also provided are methods of making and using the capsids and compositions disclosed herein. The rAAV disclosed herein are particularly useful for gene transfer applications where high transduction efficiency is required (e.g., gene therapy).