Arun Srivastava Lab

Welcome

Dr. Srivastava’s research has been focused on the following two parvoviruses, the non-pathogenic adeno-associated virus (AAV), and a common human pathogen, the parvovirus B19, and the development of recombinant parvovirus vectors in human gene therapy. His laboratory has made seminal contributions to the field of parvoviruses, which include: identification of cellular co-receptors for AAV2 and AAV3 as well as parvovirus B19; elucidation of various steps involved in parvovirus trafficking in the cell and nuclear transport; identification of cellular proteins involved in the regulation of AAV DNA replication and encapsidation; development of recombinant AAV and parvovirus B19 vectors; and transgenic and knockout mouse models to study parvovirus-induced pathogenicity, and the use of parvovirus vectors for gene transfer and gene therapy. Recently, his laboratory has developed the next generation (“NextGen”) AAV vectors in which the viral capsid has been modified to achieve high-efficiency transduction at significantly reduced vector doses. More recently, his laboratory has also modified the AAV genome to develop the generation X (“GenX”) AAV vectors with which increased transgene expression can be achieved. The NextGen AAV vectors have been used by other investigators in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). The NextGen and the GenX vectors have been combined in Dr. Srivastava’s laboratory to develop the optimized [“Opt”] AAV serotype vectors, and the current emphasis is on the potential gene therapy of genetic diseases such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, and malignant disorders such as hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.