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This image may not be used in educational posters .Illustration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) particle. AAVs are small, non-enveloped viruses. They are considered non-pathogenic, meaning they do not cause any known diseases in humans. AAVs have been studied extensively for their potential use in gene therapy, a medical technique that involves introducing new genes into a patient's cells to treat or prevent diseases. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/RUSSELL KIGHTLEY)