Methods for the construction and propagation of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors

The development of gene transfer vectors from the human parvovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), has provided scientists with an efficient and effective way of delivering genes into mammalian cells. This chapter aims to explore the various practical aspects of the AAV vector system, and in consequence, to highlight particular difficulties that may be encountered by workers new to the field. However, before describing the methodology involved in the generation of recombinant AAV vectors, it is of value to briefly discuss the structure and life cycle of this unique virus. Detailed and more extensive reviews that describe the biology of adeno-associated virus are also available (1-3).