Abstract: The present disclosure, at least in part, relates to compositions (e.g., isolated nucleic acid and rAAVs) and methods for treating Non-syndromic hearing loss and deafness (DFNB1) by delivering gap junction beta 2 (GJB2) protein to inner ear cells that normally express GJB2 (e.g., fibrocytes and supporting cells of the organ of Corti and nearby regions). The isolated nucleic acid of the present disclosure comprises an expression cassette, wherein the expression cassette comprises a gap junction beta 2 (GJB2) gene regulatory element (GRE) (e.g., GJB2 enhancers, GJB2 promoters, GJB2 5? UTR, and/or GJB2 3? UTR), and a nucleotide sequence encoding a GJB2 protein.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to compositions, nucleic acids, vectors, viruses, and methods useful for treating hearing loss and/or blindness, for example, Usher Syndrome type IF. The present disclosure provides isolated nucleic acids, vectors, and rAAV.9.PHP.B comprising a transgene encoding a mini-PCDH15, and methods of treating hearing loss using the same. The present disclosure also provides a gRNA associated with a base editor to correct one or more mutations in PCDH15 for treating hearing loss and/or vision loss.