High levels of AAV vector integration into CRISPR-induced DNA breaks.

ABSTRACT: Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have shown promising results in preclinical models, but the genomic consequences of transduction with AAV vectors encoding CRISPR-Cas nucleases is still being examined. In this study, we observe high levels of AAV integration (up to 47%) into Cas9-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) in therapeutically relevant genes in cultured murine neurons, mouse brain, muscle and cochlea. Genome-wide AAV mapping in mouse brain shows no overall increase of AAV integration except at the CRISPR/Cas9 target site. To allow detailed characterization of integration events we engineer a miniature AAV encoding a 465?bp lambda bacteriophage DNA (AAV-?465), enabling sequencing of the entire integrated vector genome. The integration profile of AAV-465? in cultured cells display both full-length and fragmented AAV genomes at Cas9 on-target sites. Our data indicate that AAV integration should be recognized as a common outcome for applications that utilize AAV for genome editing.

SUBMITTER: Hanlon KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6769011 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature