CAR chasing: canine adenovirus vectors-all bite and no bark?

This review deals primarily with canine adenovirus serotype 2 (CAV-2) vectors and gives a simplified overview of how the various domains of virology, cellular and molecular biology, as well as immunology, come into play when trying to understand and ameliorate adenovirus (Ad)-mediated gene transfer. The generation of early region 1 (E1)-deleted (DeltaE1) CAV-2 vectors, the lack of pre-existing humoral immunity, trafficking, the use of the coxsackie B adenovirus receptor (CAR), the surprising neuronal tropism, and the ability to migrate via axons to afferent regions of the central and peripheral nervous system, are described. Due to these intrinsic properties, CAV-2 vectors may be powerful tools for the study of the pathophysiology and potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like lysosomal storage disorders, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others. Other potential uses include anti-tumoral and anti-viral vaccines, tracer of synaptic junctions, pain therapy, cancer therapy (e.g. K9 CRAds), and gene transfer to other somatic tissues.