Adeno-associated viruses undergo substantial evolution in primates during natural infections

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 May 13;100(10):6081-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0937739100. Epub 2003 Apr 25.

Abstract

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are single-stranded DNA viruses that are endemic in human populations without known clinical sequelae and are being evaluated as vectors for human gene therapy. To better understand the biology of this virus, we examined a number of nonhuman primate species for the presence of previously uncharacterized AAVs and characterized their structure and distribution. AAV genomes were widely disseminated throughout multiple tissues of a variety of nonhuman primate species. Surprising diversity of sequence, primarily localized to hypervariable regions of the capsid protein, was detected. This diversity of sequence is caused, in part, by homologous recombination of co-infecting parental viruses that modify the serologic reactivity and tropism of the virus. This is an example of rapid molecular evolution of a DNA virus in a way that was formerly thought to be restricted to RNA viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artifacts
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Dependovirus / classification
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Dependovirus / isolation & purification
  • Dependovirus / pathogenicity
  • Genome, Viral
  • Geography
  • Macaca
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Papio
  • Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Primate Diseases / virology*
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • DNA Primers

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY242997
  • GENBANK/AY242998
  • GENBANK/AY242999
  • GENBANK/AY243000
  • GENBANK/AY243001
  • GENBANK/AY243002
  • GENBANK/AY243003
  • GENBANK/AY243004
  • GENBANK/AY243005
  • GENBANK/AY243006
  • GENBANK/AY243007
  • GENBANK/AY243008
  • GENBANK/AY243009
  • GENBANK/AY243010
  • GENBANK/AY243011
  • GENBANK/AY243012
  • GENBANK/AY243013
  • GENBANK/AY243014
  • GENBANK/AY243015
  • GENBANK/AY243016
  • GENBANK/AY243017
  • GENBANK/AY243018
  • GENBANK/AY243019
  • GENBANK/AY243020
  • GENBANK/AY243021
  • GENBANK/AY243022
  • GENBANK/AY243023
  • GENBANK/AY243024
  • GENBANK/AY243025
  • GENBANK/AY243026