Rabies viral vectors for monosynaptic tracing and targeted transgene expression in neurons
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Updated: Sep 1, 2026

Viral Tracing of Genetically Defined Neural Circuitry
Published on: October 17, 2012
Ian R Wickersham1, Heather A Sullivan2
1McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139;
Abstract:
Deletion-mutant rabies viral (RV) vectors are powerful tools for neuroscience, allowing monosynaptic tracing of inputs to defined populations and rapid, high-level transgene expression in neurons targeted by multiple routes. High titers and high purity are critical for the successful use of RV vectors in vivo. Here we present a protocol for producing high-quality viral stocks that can be concentrated by ultracentrifugation for final titers in excess of 10(10) infectious units per milliliter.

