What features of AAV makes the virus a good vector for gene delivery?

AAV vectors exploit the properties of AAV for transduction of genes to cells and organisms. AAV vectors are generally considered safer than adenoviral and retroviral vectors. AAV vectors can be used to transduce genes into both proliferating and nonproliferating cells and can impart long-term expression in nondividing cells. In addition, AAV has little immunogenicity and is suitable for the [...]

What are the main features of adeno-associated viruses?

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a nonenveloped virus that belongs to the Parvovirus family of the Dependovirus genus. AAV is not thought to be pathogenic to humans and only replicates in the presence of a helper virus, such as adenovirus or herpesvirus. The capsid structural proteins determine the ability of the virus to infect tissues/cells; tissue-specificity is known to differ for various [...]

What is PFU?

PFU, or plaque forming units, measures the ability of the virus to infect permissive cells and replicate, forming plaques (holes that represent lysed cells) in the cell monolayer. The titer in PFU/ml is determined by a plaque [...]

What is IFU?

IFU, or infectious units, determines the virus’ ability to infect cells and express protein. You can determine the infectious viral titer (IFU/ml) by measuring the expression of a reporter or a specific protein by flow cytometry, immunostaining, [...]

What is MOI?

MOI, or multiplicity of infection, is the number of infectious viral units per cell at the time of [...]