Viral neuronal tracing

Viral neuronal tracing is the use of a virus to trace neural pathways, providing a self-replicating tracer. Viruses have the advantage of self-replication over molecular tracers but can also spread too quickly and cause degradation of neural tissue. Viruses that can infect the nervous system, called neurotropic viruses, spread through spatially close assemblies of neurons through synapses, allowing for their use in studying functionally connected neural networks.[1][2][3]

The use of viruses to label functionally connected neurons stems from the work and bioassay developed by Albert Sabin.[4] Subsequent research allowed for the incorporation of immunohistochemical techniques to systematically label neuronal connections.[4] To date, viruses have been used to study multiple circuits in the nervous system.

  1. ^ Ugolini, Gabriella (2010). "Advances in viral transneuronal tracing". Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 194 (1): 2–20. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.12.001. PMID 20004688. S2CID 43490041.
  2. ^ Koyuncu, Orkide O.; Hogue, Ian B.; Enquist, Lynn W. (2013). "Virus Infections in the Nervous System". Cell Host & Microbe. 13 (4): 379–393. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2013.03.010. PMC 3647473. PMID 23601101.
  3. ^ Ludlow, Martin; Kortekaas, Jeroen; Herden, Christiane; Hoffmann, Bernd; Tappe, Dennis; Trebst, Corinna; Griffin, Diane E.; Brindle, Hannah E.; Solomon, Tom; Brown, Alan S.; van Riel, Debby; Wolthers, Katja C.; Pajkrt, Dasja; Wohlsein, Peter; Martina, Byron E. E. (2016). "Neurotropic virus infections as the cause of immediate and delayed neuropathology". Acta Neuropathologica. 131 (2): 159–184. doi:10.1007/s00401-015-1511-3. ISSN 0001-6322. PMC 4713712. PMID 26659576.
  4. ^ a b Sams, J. M.; Jansen, A. S.; Mettenleiter, T. C.; Loewy, A. D. (1995-07-31). "Pseudorabies virus mutants as transneuronal markers". Brain Research. 687 (1–2): 182–190. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(95)00484-8. ISSN 0006-8993. PMID 7583303. S2CID 21516719.