Fig. 3From: Optimization of AAV vectors to target persistent viral reservoirsIdentification of AAV variants with tropism for sites of persistent viral infections. The eradication or inactivation of viral reservoirs by direct delivery of virus-specific gene-editing enzymes or RNA-interference molecules represents a potentially curative strategy for persistent viral infections that currently affect billions of people worldwide. AAV is a promising delivery vector for these classes of antiviral therapy. Several AAV vectors discussed in this review and indicated below exhibit a high degree of tropism for the peripheral nervous system, liver, and CD4+ T cells, reservoir sites for Herpes simplex virus-1, 2 (HSV-1,2); Varicella Zoster virus (VZV); Hepatitis B virus (HBV); and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Figure created with BioRender.comBack to article page