| abstract |
The present invention relates to recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) having capsid proteins engineered to include amino acid sequences that confer and/or enhance desired properties. In particular, the invention provides engineered capsid proteins comprising peptide insertions from heterologous proteins inserted within or near variable region IV (VR-IV) of the virus capsid, such that the insertion is surface exposed on the AAV particle. The invention also provides capsid proteins that direct rAAVs to target tissues, in particular, capsid proteins comprising peptides derived from erythropoietin or dynein that are inserted into surface- exposed variable regions and that target rAAVs to retinal tissue and/or neural tissue, including the central nervous system, and deliver therapeutics for treating neurological and/or eye disorders. |