Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
In vivo–directed evolution of adeno-associated virus in the primate retina
Leah C. Byrne, Timothy P. Day, Meike Visel, Jennifer A. Strazzeri, Cécile Fortuny, Deniz Dalkara, William H. Merigan, David V. Schaffer, John G. Flannery
Leah C. Byrne, Timothy P. Day, Meike Visel, Jennifer A. Strazzeri, Cécile Fortuny, Deniz Dalkara, William H. Merigan, David V. Schaffer, John G. Flannery
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Ophthalmology

In vivo–directed evolution of adeno-associated virus in the primate retina

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Efficient adeno-associated virus–mediated (AAV-mediated) gene delivery remains a significant obstacle to effective retinal gene therapies. Here, we apply directed evolution — guided by deep sequencing and followed by direct in vivo secondary selection of high-performing vectors with a GFP-barcoded library — to create AAV viral capsids with the capability to deliver genes to the outer retina in primates. A replication-incompetent library, produced via providing rep in trans, was created to mitigate risk of AAV propagation. Six rounds of in vivo selection with this library in primates — involving intravitreal library administration, recovery of genomes from outer retina, and extensive next-generation sequencing of each round — resulted in vectors with redirected tropism to the outer retina and increased gene delivery efficiency to retinal cells. These viral vectors expand the toolbox of vectors available for primate retina, and they may enable less invasive delivery of therapeutic genes to patients, potentially offering retina-wide infection at a similar dosage to vectors currently in clinical use.

Authors

Leah C. Byrne, Timothy P. Day, Meike Visel, Jennifer A. Strazzeri, Cécile Fortuny, Deniz Dalkara, William H. Merigan, David V. Schaffer, John G. Flannery

×

Figure 6

Validation of NHP#26 in primate retina.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Validation of NHP#26 in primate retina.
(A) Fundus imaging in a primate ...
(A) Fundus imaging in a primate eye after injection of 5 × 1010 particles of NHP#26-scCAG-GFP revealed a disc of GFP expression centered on the fovea and a punctate pattern of GFP expression across the retina. (B) Confocal imaging of native GFP expression in the flat-mounted fovea. (C) Confocal imaging of native GFP expression in the area outside of the vascular arcade. (D) Confocal imaging of native GFP expression in a cryostat section through the fovea. (E) Native GFP expression in the inferior retina, outside the vascular arcade, shows little GFP expression in ganglion cells, but shows high levels of expression in Müller cells and some photoreceptors in the outer retina. Autofluorescence was also observed in RPE. (F) Anti-GFP labeling in a cryostat section revealed GFP expression in photoreceptors, as evidenced by their outer segments, Müller cells, and retina-spanning processes as well as cells in the inner nuclear layer with horizontal processes that are likely interneurons. (G) Anti-GFP labeling in a foveal section reveals additional infected cones, Müller glia, and interneurons. (H) Colabeling with anti–cone arrestin and anti-GFP antibodies reveals GFP expression in rod photoreceptors as well as cells in the inner nuclear layer, in a section taken next to the optic nerve head. (I) Colabeling with anti–cone arrestin and anti-GFP antibodies in an area of low expression reveals GFP expression in inner nuclear layer cells. (J and K) Montages of confocal images from cryostat sections collected outside the vascular arcade show efficient expression of GFP in the inner nuclear layer and outer retina. Scale bar: 200 μm (A and B), 100 μm (C–K). RPE, retinal pigment epithelium.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts