We are extremely happy and excited that our work on ex/in vivo SARS-CoV-2 inhibition using novel combinatorial AAV-RNAi vectors has now been published in Molecular Therapy!
CLICK THE IMAGE above or HERE to be redirected to the freely accessible online version.

In this paper, we show that co-expression of 3 shRNAs against the RdRp and N genes inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in cells, primary human organoids and two mouse models of coronavirus infection. We also found that our new "AAV-SAVIOR" vector stops SARS-CoV-2 from rapidly mutating and escaping.

Importantly, all shRNA target sites are fully conserved in the currently circulating Omicron strain. The shRNAs and the AAV capsid can be replaced very quickly, enabling rapid and easy adaptation of AAV-SAVIOR as a prophylaxis or therapy for newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Congratulations to the 1st author Jonas Becker (PhD student in the lab) , as well as to the other authors from our lab who made pivotal contributions: Olena Maiakovska (bioinformatics), Ellen Wiedtke (AAV production) and Ali Ghanem (shRNA selection). Extremely well done !!

Finally, a big THANK YOU to our fantastic partners in the labs of Steeve Boulant (equal last author), Oliver Fackler, Hans-Georg Kräusslich and Ralph Baric: Megan Stanifer (equal 1st author), Sarah Leist (equal 1st author), Bettina Stolp, Kathleen Börner, Ande West, Ina Ambiel and Vic Tse !!

Also check out our corresponding tweets with more links