Production and use of replication-deficient adenovirus for transgene expression in neurons

Adenoviruses infect a wide range of cell types, do not require integration into the host cell genome, and can be produced as replication-deficient viruses capable of expressing transgenes behind any desired promoter. Thus, they are ideal for use in expressing transgenes in the postmitotic neuron. This chapter describes simplifications in the protocols for making recombinant adenoviruses and their use in expressing transgenes in primary neurons of several different types.