HSV For Neuronal Tracing

BackgroundProduct Details Product List AdvantagesApplications

Background

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) belongs to the α-subfamily of the Herpesviridae family and is distinguished from the β- and γ- subfamilies by its rapid reproduction rate and ability to infect and remain latent in neurons. As a ubiquitous and highly contagious human pathogen, HSV-1 has a very high infection rate worldwide. HSV infects epithelial cells in the skin, spreads through sensory nerves, and ultimately reaches the neuronal perikarya in the central nervous system. These findings inspired scientists to test the potential of HSV for neural circuit tracing in the 1980s.

The ~150 kb double-stranded (ds) DNA genome, about half of which is non-essential genes, provides ample capacity for foreign genes, making HSV-1 an ideal vector for large-scale gene delivery. HSV-1 has the properties of neuronal tropism and efficient infection of the central nervous system (CNS), making it a neuron-specific marker and gene delivery vector. In addition, the transneuronal transmission capacities of HSV-1 further highlight its potential to be employed for visualizing neuronal connections. HSV-1 strain H129 (H129), which spreads primarily in neurons in the anterograde direction, is one of the most promising viral tracers for mapping output neuronal circuits and has therefore been genetically modified to develop neuronal circuit tracers. Several neuroscience laboratories worldwide have applied H129-derived tools in their research and have achieved numerous important findings.

Figure 1. Genomes of current H129-derived tracers, and anterograde tracing schematics. (Li D, et al., 2020)

Product Details

For many years, traditional non-viral methods have been widely used to trace neural circuits. However, most traditional tracers have limited specificity, low efficiency, lack of temporal control, and a high risk of damaging surrounding tissue during highly invasive procedures. In contrast, viral tools represent a major advancement in neural circuit tracing, providing a more refined and targeted approach. Creative Biogene offers a variety of HSV-derived tools that replace traditional tracers with highly efficient, more specific, and less invasive viral approaches. These engineered viral vectors are designed to deliver genetic material to neurons, enabling precise labeling, monitoring, and manipulation of neural circuits.

Product List

Cat.NO.	Product Name	Application	Price
VNTH-1	HSV1-EGFP	Anterograde muti-synaptic tracing	Inquiry
VNTH-2	HSV1-tdTomato	Anterograde muti-synaptic tracing	Inquiry
VNTH-3	HSV1-HBEGFP	Anterograde muti-synaptic tracing	Inquiry
VNTH-4	HSV1-ΔTK-hUbC-tdTomato	Anterograde monosynaptic tracing when used with helper virus	Inquiry
VNTH-5	HSV1-ΔTK-CAG-LSL-tdTomato	Anterograde monosynaptic tracing when used with helper virus	Inquiry
VNTH-6	HSV1-LSL-tdTomato-2a-TK(H356)	Anterograde muti-synaptic tracing	Inquiry
VNTH-7	HSV1-ΔTK-LSL-tdTomato(H361)	Anterograde monosynaptic tracing when used with helper virus	Inquiry

Advantages

Wide range of cell infection types for preclinical evaluation
The ability to infect both dividing and non-dividing cells
A large transgene capacity allows the introduction of high amounts of exogenous DNA
Strong background in neuronal tracing tool
Hypotoxicity and strong signal
The most competitive price

Applications

Mapping brain-specific multi-level output networks: HSV helps trace forward and feedback pathways in the brain. It allows researchers to study how sensory information is transmitted from peripheral to central networks and how these networks transmit output from lower to higher brain regions and vice versa.
Changes in neural networks during neurodevelopment: During development, neural networks undergo significant changes. HSV-based tracing allows scientists to visualize the dynamics of these networks over time, providing insights into how brain connectivity develops from infancy to adulthood.
Characterization of abnormal neural networks in neuropsychiatric disease models: HSV tracing is used to explore the structural properties and disruptions of neural networks associated with neuropsychiatric diseases. By mapping these changes, researchers can better understand how central and peripheral information outputs become pathological, paving the way for targeted treatments.
Assessing neural network connectivity in models of neural injury and rehabilitation: Neural injury disrupts communication between central and peripheral networks. HSV helps trace these connections, studying how injury affects network integrity and how rehabilitation efforts can restore these pathways.
Tracing the communication pathways between peripheral organs and the central nervous system: HSV is an effective vector for tracing the communication pathways between peripheral organs and the central nervous system.

HSV-derived vectors have great potential in basic research and gene therapy for neurological diseases. Creative Biogene can also provide customized HSV-derived vectors to customers all over the world. If you are interested in our services and products, please feel free to contact us for more details.

References:

Li D, et al. Anterograde neuronal circuit tracers derived from herpes simplex virus 1: development, application, and perspectives. International journal of molecular sciences, 2020, 21(16): 5937.
Qiu L, et al. Lighting up neural circuits by viral tracing. Neuroscience Bulletin, 2022, 38(11): 1383-1396.

* For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.

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