Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40935897›Full record

ReviewNature protocols2026

Dual AAV vectors for efficient delivery of large transgenes.

David M Mittas, Lisa M Riedmayr, Zoran Gavrilov, Valentin J Weber, Dina Y Otify, Verena Mehlfeld, Balint Szalontai, Emina Ucambarlic, Catharina Gandor, Thomas Heigl and 2 more

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Nature protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

David M Mittas *Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0009-0006-9554-3033
Lisa M Riedmayr *Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Zoran GavrilovLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Valentin J WeberLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0004-9354-5014
Dina Y OtifyDepartment of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
Verena MehlfeldDepartment of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
Balint SzalontaiLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-6421-2553
Emina UcambarlicLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Catharina GandorLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0009-7660-3485
Thomas HeiglLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-1571-8579
Martin BielDepartment of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
Elvir BecirovicLaboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. elvir.becirovic@uzh.ch.

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 513025799/FOR5621Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation) 320030E_221942 & 310030_212190
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite their limited cargo capacity (<5 kb), adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors remain the gold standard for in vivo delivery of therapeutic genes. Dual AAV vectors have emerged as a valuable tool for delivering large therapeutic genes and CRISPR tools to overcome this limitation. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the design, production and evaluation of dual AAV vectors. We offer guidelines for selecting a suitable dual AAV strategy, designing and cloning the genes to be delivered, and conducting in vitro evaluations of expression efficiency. In addition, we detail the production of dual AAVs and their assessment in human cellular models, such as induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids. Finally, we outline the administration of dual AAVs via different routes in mice and the assessment of transgene-derived RNA and protein expression in various tissues. Overall, the instructions in this Protocol will aid in the efficient in vivo delivery of large DNA fragments using dual AAVs. This Protocol is adaptable to a wide range of model organisms as well as to human organoid cultures and, depending on the application, can be completed in 15-44 weeks.

Indexed as

DependovirusGenetic VectorsGene Transfer TechniquesTransgenesAnimalsGenetic TherapyHumansInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsMiceOrganoidsRetina

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.