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Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a DNA virus that belongs to the alpha herpesvirus family along with the human pathogen herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is an enveloped, spherical, double-stranded DNA virus that has been molecularly modified to allow for the insertion of larger foreign genes. The natural host of the virus is the pig, and it is the causative agent of pseudorabies. PRV has a wide host range and infects all mammals except higher primates. PRV was developed in the late 20th century as a retrograde transsynaptic tracer.
PRV utilizes the nectin receptor to invade neurons via receptor-mediated fusion of the viral envelope with the target cell plasma membrane. Nectin is an adhesion molecule widely expressed in the nervous system, consistent with the ability of PRV to infect all types of neurons. PRV spreads rapidly, with transgene expression observed within 6 hours in vitro, within 1 day in vivo, and transsynaptic spread demonstrated within 2 days in vivo. Different strains of PRV transport in different directions. The wild-type, virulent strain PRV-Becker spreads bidirectionally (anterograde and retrograde) between connected neurons, while another attenuated strain, PRV-Bartha, exhibits selective retrograde transport. PRV-152 is an engineered strain of PRV-Bartha that has been extensively used for retrograde polysynaptic tracing by adding a CMV-EGFP cassette to the viral genome to allow for GFP expression. Due to the nature of polysynaptic transmission, PRV is an excellent tool for short-term retrograde tracing of multilevel neural circuits that terminate in the periphery.
Figure 1. Overview of Pseudorabies virus for neuronal tracing tool.
(Card J P, Enquist L W. 2014)
At Creative Biogene, we understand the complexity of neuronal connectivity and its critical role in brain function. Our advanced neuronal tracing tools are designed to provide unparalleled insights into brain circuits, overcome the limitations of traditional tracers, and harness the power of recombinant viral vectors for precise cell-specific neuronal mapping. Creative Biogene offers a variety of PRV-derived neuronal tracing tools. These vectors have higher efficiency, specificity, and the ability to visualize complex neural connections across multiple synaptic steps.
| Cat.NO. | Product Name | Application | Price |
| VNTP-1 | PRV-CMV-EGFP | Retrograde muti-synaptic tracing | Inquiry |
| VNTP-2 | PRV-CMV-RFP | Retrograde muti-synaptic tracing | Inquiry |
| VNTP-3 | PRV-hUbC-EGFP | Retrograde muti-synaptic tracing | Inquiry |
| VNTP-4 | PRV-ΔTK-hUbC-DsRed | Retrograde monosynaptic tracing when used with helper virus | Inquiry |
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a versatile tool that is widely used for neuronal tracing due to its unique ability to transsynaptically label neurons at multiple synaptic stages. The following are some applications of recombinant PRV in neural circuit tracing.
(1) One of the main applications of PRV in neuronal tracing is to study the brain-wide multisynaptic input network structure to a specific region of the brain. By using PRV, researchers can map out complex networks of neural connections, reveal how individual brain regions are interconnected, and identify potential pathways for processing different types of information.
(2) PRV is also a powerful tool for elucidating the dynamic changes of neural networks during neurodevelopment. By studying how neuronal connections evolve over time, scientists can gain insight into normal developmental processes and identify critical periods of vulnerability or plasticity, potentially guiding interventions for developmental disorders.
(3) In models of neural injury and rehabilitation, PRV is used to track the reorganization of neural pathways. It provides valuable data on how neural circuits adapt to injury and how they reorganize during recovery, thereby informing therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing rehabilitation and functional recovery.
(4) PRV plays a key role in tracing communication pathways between peripheral organs and the central nervous system. In models of neuropsychiatric diseases, PRV helps describe the structural features and abnormal changes of peripheral neural networks that receive input from the central brain.
PRV-derived vectors have great potential in basic research and gene therapy for neurological diseases. Creative Biogene can also provide customized PRV-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.
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