Streamlined Adeno-Associated Virus Production Using Suspension HEK293T Cells

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are valuable viral vectors for in vivo gene transfer, also having significant ex vivo therapeutic potential. Continued efforts have focused on various gene therapy applications, capsid engineering, and scalable manufacturing processes. Adherent cells are commonly used for virus production in most basic science laboratories because of their efficiency and cost. Although suspension cells are easier to handle and scale up compared to adherent cells, their use in virus production is hampered by poor transfection efficiency. In this protocol, we developed a simple scalable AAV production protocol using serum-free-media-adapted HEK293T suspension cells and VirusGEN transfection reagent. The established protocol allows AAV production from transfection to quality analysis of purified AAV within two weeks. Typical vector yields for the described suspension system followed by iodixanol purification range from a total of 1 × 1013 to 1.5 × 1013 vg (vector genome) using 90 mL of cell suspension vs. 1 × 1013 to 2 × 1013 vg using a regular adherent cell protocol (10 × 15 cm dishes). Key features • Adeno-associated virus (AAV) production using serum-free-media-adapted HEK293T suspension cells. • Efficient transfection with VirusGEN. • High AAV yield from small-volume cell culture. Graphical overview.

Characterization and quantification of adeno-associated virus capsid-loading states by multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation with UltraScan

Aim: We present multi-wavelength (MW) analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) methods offering superior accuracy for adeno-associated virus characterization and quantification. Methods: Experimental design guidelines are presented for MW sedimentation velocity and analytical buoyant density equilibrium AUC. Results: Our results were compared with dual-wavelength AUC, transmission electron microscopy and mass photometry. In contrast to dual-wavelength AUC, MW-AUC correctly quantifies adeno-associated virus capsid ratios and identifies contaminants. In contrast to transmission electron microscopy, partially filled capsids can also be detected and quantified. In contrast to mass photometry, first-principle results are obtained. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the improved information provided by MW-AUC, highlighting the utility of several recently integrated UltraScan programs, and reinforces AUC as the gold-standard analysis for viral vectors.

Quantitative DNA variation and chromosome homology

In many genera, of both plants and animals, divergence and speciation is often accompanied by massive changes in the amount of nuclear DNA. These changes, in turn, result from amplification or repetition of base sequences within the chromosomal DNA. The chromosomes of different species are consequently of different size and structure. Observations in hybrids between species differing in nuclear DNA amount show that, despite large differences in DNA content, homoeologous chromosomes pair effectively at pachytene and form chiasmata. Only when the DNA differences are very large, of the order of 60% or more, is pairing at pachytene and chiasma formation impaired. The conclusion is that large scale chromosome structural change due to the repetition of DNA base sequences has surprisingly little effect upon the homology of chromosomes, i.e. their ability to pair effectively and form chiasmata at meiosis. Similar repetitive sequences are frequently distributed widely among non-homologous chromosomes within complements. The question then arises as to what prevents chiasma formation between the non-homologous chromosomes which have in common DNA segments of similar sequences? Evidence is presented which indicates that prevention is under the control of the genotype. The control is effected in one of two ways, either by the suppression of pairing at zygotene or pachytene or by suppression of chiasma formation subsequent to pairing.

Preferential C-banding of wheat or rye chromosomes

Using different stains, wheat chromosomes could be distinguished from rye chromosomes by preferential staining. C-bands of rye chromosomes were preferentially stained with Giemsa while those of wheat chromosomes were preferentially stained with either Leishman or Wright stain. Preferential staining aids the identification of wheat and rye chromosomes and chromosome segments and in particular the recognition of wheat/rye chromosome substitutions and translocations.

C-banded wheat chromosomes in wheat and triticale

The C-banding patterns of wheat chromosomes in 7 hexaploid triticale and 7 wheat genotypes are described and compared. All 14 wheat chromosome pairs were individually identified in the triticales and a tetraploid wheat, and all the B and two A genome chromosome pairs in the hexaploid wheat genotypes. Little variation was found between genotypes in the distribution of C-bands but considerable variation was found in their size, total number and total length.