Strategies for Targeting Neural Circuits: How to Manipulate Neurons Using Virus Vehicles

Yuqing Hui; Xuefeng Zheng; Huijie Zhang; Fang Li; Guangyin Yu; Jiong Li; Jifeng Zhang; Xiaobing Gong; Guoqing Guo

doi:10.3389/fncir.2022.882366

Strategies for Targeting Neural Circuits: How to Manipulate Neurons Using Virus Vehicles

Front Neural Circuits. 2022 Apr 29:16:882366. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2022.882366. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yuqing Hui^{1

2}, Xuefeng Zheng¹, Huijie Zhang^{1

2}, Fang Li¹, Guangyin Yu¹, Jiong Li¹, Jifeng Zhang¹, Xiaobing Gong², Guoqing Guo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou.
² Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Viral strategies are the leading methods for mapping neural circuits. Viral vehicles combined with genetic tools provide the possibility to visualize entire functional neural networks and monitor and manipulate neural circuit functions by high-resolution cell type- and projection-specific targeting. Optogenetics and chemogenetics drive brain research forward by exploring causal relationships among different brain regions. Viral strategies offer a fresh perspective for the analysis of the structure-function relationship of the neural circuitry. In this review, we summarize current and emerging viral strategies for targeting neural circuits and focus on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors.

Keywords: AAV; RV; chemogenetics; neural circuits; optogenetics; viral vectors.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / physiology
Genetic Vectors*
Neurons / physiology
Optogenetics* / methods