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Updated: Dec 12, 2025
Conditional Genetic Transsynaptic Tracing in the Embryonic Mouse Brain
Published on: December 22, 2014
Viral Vectors for Neural Circuit Mapping and Recent Advances in Trans-synaptic Anterograde Tracers
Xiangmin Xu1, Todd C Holmes2, Min-Hua Luo3
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-1275, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4025, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2715, USA; The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Abstract:
Viral tracers are important tools for neuroanatomical mapping and genetic payload delivery. Genetically modified viruses allow for cell-type-specific targeting and overcome many limitations of non-viral tracers. Here, we summarize the viruses that have been developed for neural circuit mapping, and we provide a primer on currently applied anterograde and retrograde viral tracers with practical guidance on experimental uses. We also discuss and highlight key technical and conceptual considerations for developing new safer and more effective anterograde trans-synaptic viral vectors for neural circuit analysis in multiple species.
