AAV

Full Name: Adeno-Associated Virus

BACKGROUND: Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are small viruses that infect humans and some other primate species. They belong to the genus Dependoparvovirus, which in turn belongs to the family Parvoviridae. AAVs exist as different serotypes (e.g., AAV2, AAV5, AAV9, etc.), which differ in the proteins on the surface of the capsid. These proteins determine the virus's ability to bind to specific cell types and facilitate its entry into those cells. Different AAV serotypes have varying tissue tropisms, meaning they are more likely to infect certain tissues (e.g., AAV9 has high affinity for cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neuronal tissues, while AAV2 predominantly infects liver cells).

Synonyms: AAV; Adeno-associated virus