Complete neutralizing antibody evasion by serodivergent non-mammalian AAVs enables gene therapy redosing

The use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a gene therapy vector is significantly limited by pre-existing immunity. The high seroprevalence and broad antigenic cross-reactivity of primate-derived AAVs restrict patient eligibility and preclude therapeutic redosing. Here, we harness the phylogenetic diversity of non-mammalian dependoparvoviruses to engineer serologically distinct AAV capsids for immune evasion. A barcoded screen of divergent Dependoparvovirus isolates identifies AAV.div3A, a chimeric capsid with robust transduction, zero antigenic cross-reactivity, and undetectable seroprevalence. Derived from a phylogenetically distant Muscovy duck isolate, AAV.div3A fully evades neutralization in mice, even after passive immunization with NAb+ human serum or following initial vector dosing. Further engineering yields AAV.div3A-M1, a myotropic, liver-detargeted capsid with enhanced cardiac and diaphragm transduction. In a Pompe disease model, redosing with AAV.div3A or div3A-M1 significantly increases therapeutic GAA levels. Overall, our work leverages untapped dependoparvoviral diversity to overcome pre-existing and vector-induced immunity, enabling expansion of patient eligibility and effective redosing.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cell Reports Medicine
Published
2025-11-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102475
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Virus-based gene therapy research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.27

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article

Complete neutralizing antibody evasion by serodivergent non-mammalian AAVs enables gene therapy redosing

Abigail R. Benkert, Aravind Asokan, Joshua A. Hull, Marco M. Fanous et al.
4 citations
Cell Reports Medicine
Virus-based gene therapy research
7.27
article

Complete neutralizing antibody evasion by serodivergent non-mammalian AAVs enables gene therapy redosing

Abigail R. Benkert, Aravind Asokan, Joshua A. Hull, Marco M. Fanous, Mai K. ElMallah, Delaney G. Fisher, Sophia Fergione, E. Loeb, Vivian Yudistyra
article en
4 citations

Abstract

The use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a gene therapy vector is significantly limited by pre-existing immunity. The high seroprevalence and broad antigenic cross-reactivity of primate-derived AAVs restrict patient eligibility and preclude therapeutic redosing. Here, we harness the phylogenetic diversity of non-mammalian dependoparvoviruses to engineer serologically distinct AAV capsids for immune evasion. A barcoded screen of divergent Dependoparvovirus isolates identifies AAV.div3A, a chimeric capsid with robust transduction, zero antigenic cross-reactivity, and undetectable seroprevalence. Derived from a phylogenetically distant Muscovy duck isolate, AAV.div3A fully evades neutralization in mice, even after passive immunization with NAb+ human serum or following initial vector dosing. Further engineering yields AAV.div3A-M1, a myotropic, liver-detargeted capsid with enhanced cardiac and diaphragm transduction. In a Pompe disease model, redosing with AAV.div3A or div3A-M1 significantly increases therapeutic GAA levels. Overall, our work leverages untapped dependoparvoviral diversity to overcome pre-existing and vector-induced immunity, enabling expansion of patient eligibility and effective redosing.

Cell Reports MedicineVol. 6(12)
Duke University (US)
National Institutes of Health
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Virus-based gene therapy research
7.27
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