Virus Tracer Products

Neural circuit mapping relies heavily on tracers to delineate neuronal projections and connectivity. While traditional chemical tracers like horseradish peroxidase and dextran amine were foundational, their limitations—including non-specific labeling, inconsistent transsynaptic efficiency, and significant signal decay—restrict their utility. Viral tracers, leveraging genetic engineering, overcome these challenges, offering superior cell-type specificity, reduced toxicity, and robust transsynaptic transmission.

Viral tracers are indispensable tools across diverse neuroscience domains, from pain modulation and anxiety behavior studies to intricate neural circuit analysis. We offer a comprehensive suite of viral tracer products, encompassing anterograde, retrograde, and transsynaptic tracing capabilities.

Virus Type Advantages Tracer Type Premade Viruses

Virus Type

Viral tracers are broadly classified by their synaptic transmission capability: transsynaptic and non-transsynaptic. Transsynaptic viruses (e.g., PRV, RV, CAV-2) propagate across synapses, enabling the mapping of interconnected neural networks. Conversely, non-transsynaptic viruses restrict infection to local neurons. Furthermore, tracers are categorized by their transport direction: anterograde and retrograde. Anterograde tracers (e.g., AAV, HSV) move along axons, tracing downstream projections, while retrograde tracers (e.g., retrograde AAV) travel along dendrites, revealing upstream connections.

HSV PRV RV VSV AAV

Advantages of Viral Tracers

Our viral tracers offer distinct advantages for precise neural circuit mapping:

Targeted Labeling: Gene editing enables precise labeling of specific neuronal populations, overcoming the limitations of traditional tracers.
Synaptic Pathway Tracing: Modified transsynaptic viruses (e.g., PRV, RV) facilitate the mapping of intricate neural connections.
Enhanced Safety: Virulence gene deletion, such as PRV envelope protein removal, significantly reduces toxicity, ensuring suitability for prolonged studies.
Advanced Circuit Analysis: Innovative tracers, like three-level loop tracing, enable comprehensive multi-level neural circuit investigations.

Tracer Types

As a leading contract research organization (CRO), we offer comprehensive, customized viral tracer services tailored to diverse neuroscience research needs.

Optogenetic Tools Chemogenetic Tools Calcium Sensor Neurotransmitter Sensor Recombinase Tools RNAi Tools CRISPR/Cas9 System Tools Apoptosis/Killing Tools pH Indicator Voltage Indicator AAV Control Tools Neurological Disease Related Virus

Please browse through our premade viruses list of viral tracers to find the right viral tracers for your experiment.

Virus tracers are highly efficient, non-toxic, and versatile to meet a variety of research needs. Please visit our website to learn more about our products and contact us for customized solutions.

Intellectual Property

Creative Biolabs is a contract manufacturer that produces tailored viruses and vectors according to client specifications. Importantly, this manufacturing service does not grant Creative Biolabs any intellectual property ownership; all designs and associated intellectual property rights remain exclusively with the customer.

Certain vector components may be subject to third-party intellectual property rights. Creative Biolabs offers publicly available sequence information for these components as a convenience for reference only. The customer assumes full responsibility and liability for the use of these components in their custom vectors. By purchasing vectors containing such components, the customer confirms they have secured all necessary intellectual property licenses, including the right to engage Creative Biolabs for manufacturing.

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.

Related Products

AAV2 Full Capsids, Reference Standards [CAT#: NTC2101070CR]

AAV2 Full Capsids

Tracer Type:: AAV Capsid

Applications:: Control

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