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.

In accordance with the invention, provided herein are methods for purifying recombinant adeno-associated (rAAV) vector particles.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for gene therapy, in particular, methods and compositions related to alterations in a capsid protein sequence for altering permissiveness of a promoter within a cell when the promoter and the capsid protein are present within the cell and the capsid protein and the promoter are in the context of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) particle.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to constructs comprising one or more Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory polypeptide that blocks Ca.sub.v3.2 T-type calcium channel activity and nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron excitation. Also provided herein are methods for treating pain in a subject in need thereof. In particular, provided herein are methods comprising administering Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory peptide constructs to a dorsal root ganglion of the subject, whereby expression of the Ca.sub.v3.2 inhibitory polypeptides partially or fully inhibits Ca.sub.v3.2 T-type calcium channel activity in the DRG.

Methods for in vivo administration of the coding sequence of the sirt6 gene. In particular, methods that include the administration of adeno-associated virus vectors or recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors including the coding sequence of the sirt6 gene.

The disclosure relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using pharmaceutical compositions comprising effective dosages of an adenoviral-based biological delivery and expression system for use in the treatment or prevention of osteoarthritis in human or mammalian joints by long-term inducible gene expression of human or mammalian interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in synovial cells, comprising a helper-dependent adenoviral vector containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding for human or mammalian interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), left and right inverted terminal repeats (L ITR and R ITR), the adenoviral packaging signal and non-viral, non-coding stuffer nucleic acid sequences, wherein the expression of the human or mammalian interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene within synovial cells is regulated by an inflammation-sensitive promoter.

A variant AAV capsid protein, comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to the position amino acids 585 to 597 or 598 of AAV8 or the position amino acids 583 to 595 or 596 of AAV9, and the polynucleotide, host cells, vectors, AAV virion or the pharmaceutical composition thereof. A method of treating disease, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the recombinant AAV virion.

Provided herein are compositions that include one or more adeno-associated virus (AAVs) vectors and methods of inducing differentiation of a hair cell using these vector(s).

The present disclosure provides methods for treating, preventing, or inhibiting diseases in patients having one or more mutations in complement factor H (CFH), complement component 3 (C3), and complement factor B (CFB) by administering to the patients a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector encoding a CFH polypeptide or biologically active fragment and/or variant thereof.