Viral vectors for circuit analyses (Z01)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2010 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 118803580

Monosynaptic rabies virus (RABV) tracing technology has emerged as a gold standard for tracing connections and for analysis of neuronal activities. The Z01 project is developing and producing G-deficient RABVs pseudotyped with envelope proteins from different viruses for selective labeling of starter cells and tracing direct synaptic connections. Viruses derived from different RABV strains include less cytotoxic viruses for long-term observations, tracers for labeling specific organelles or compartments, reporters for measuring neuronal activity, and vectors for optogenetic manipulation. The identification of the factors and mechanisms governing the exclusive retrograde transsynaptic transmission of RABV are being studied.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 870: Assembly and Function of Neuronal Circuits in Sensory Processing
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Karl-Klaus Conzelmann