PUBLICATION

Anterograde or Retrograde Transsynaptic Circuit Tracing in Vertebrates with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectors

Authors
Beier, K.T., Mundell, N.A., Pan, Y.A., Cepko, C.L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160106-7
Date
2016
Source
Current protocols in neuroscience   74: 1.26.1-1.26.27 (Chapter)
Registered Authors
Cepko, Connie L., Pan, Y. Albert
Keywords
VSV, axon tracing, gene delivery, neural circuitry, transsynaptic tracing
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cercopithecidae
  • Chickens
  • Cnidaria
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors/genetics*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Mice
  • Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques/methods*
  • Platyrrhini
  • Protein Transport
  • Rabies virus/physiology
  • Smegmamorpha
  • Synapses
  • Vesiculovirus/genetics*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
26729030 Full text @ Curr Protoc Neurosci
Abstract
Viruses have been used as transsynaptic tracers, allowing one to map the inputs and outputs of neuronal populations, due to their ability to replicate in neurons and transmit in vivo only across synaptically connected cells. To date, their use has been largely restricted to mammals. In order to explore the use of such viruses in an expanded host range, we tested the transsynaptic tracing ability of recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vectors in a variety of organisms. Successful infection and gene expression were achieved in a wide range of organisms, including vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms. Moreover, rVSV enabled transsynaptic tracing of neural circuitry in predictable directions dictated by the viral envelope glycoprotein (G), derived from either VSV or rabies virus (RABV). Anterograde and retrograde labeling, from initial infection and/or viral replication and transmission, was observed in Old and New World monkeys, seahorses, jellyfish, zebrafish, chickens, and mice. These vectors are widely applicable for gene delivery, afferent tract tracing, and/or directional connectivity mapping. Here, we detail the use of these vectors and provide protocols for propagating virus, changing the surface glycoprotein, and infecting multiple organisms using several injection strategies.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping