What Are Rabies Viral Vectors?
Modified rabies viral vectors are powerful tools for monosynaptic retrograde tracing of neural circuits. These vectors are derived from rabies virus (commonly SAD-B19 or CVS-N2c strains) and are engineered to (at least) lack the glycoprotein gene (ΔG), making them replication-incompetent and limiting transsynaptic spread to only one synapse. Rabies viral vectors have an insert size limit of approximately 3.5 kb (including regulatory elements)
They are typically pseudotyped with EnvA, enabling infection only of cells expressing the TVA receptor—a system that allows for precise cell-type-specific targeting.
Rabies viral vectors vectors are handled at BSL-2
Fully EnvA pseudotyped rabies viral vectors with documented absence of native coat viral particles can be reclassified to BSL-1
Rabies vectors are widely used to:
- Trace presynaptic inputs to genetically defined neurons
- Study neural circuit architecture and connectivity
- Perform single-synapse resolution mapping in the CNS
Production
Rabies vectors at the Virus Service @ MBS, ISTA are produced using a rescue and amplification protocol (see Sumser et. al, 2022 for details).
- Genome Rescue
The rabies ΔG genome is co-transfected with helper plasmids (encoding N, P, and L proteins) into HEK 293BG-T cells to generate the initial virus. - Pseudotyping
The virus is amplified in BHK-eT cells to generate the EnvA-pseudotyped ΔG rabies virus, - Purification & Quality Control
Supernatant is collected, filtered, concentrated, and titered—via infection of TVA-expressing cells.
Furthermore, we offer consultation services and custom rabies viral vectors using alternative production protocols upon request.
- If have your vector plasmids ready, please place an order through PPMS at this link.
- If you have questions about usage, production, pseudotyping, etc. feel free to contact us at molbioservices@ist.ac.at to schedule a meeting. We’re always happy to assist!