Hybrid baculovirus-adeno-associated virus vectors for prolonged transgene expression in human neural cells

To prolong the transient gene expression mediated by baculoviral vector, the inverted terminal repeats and Rep gene of adeno-associated virus were incorporated into the genome of baculovirus, creating a hybrid baculovirus-adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector. By using previously constructed composite neuron-specific and astrocyte-specific promoters in this hybrid viral vector, sustained transgene expressions could be achieved in human neuronal and glial cell lines, but not in the correspondent rodent cell lines. This hybrid baculovirus-AAV vector might be useful for gene therapy of chronic neurological diseases in the central nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.