Rabies Viral Vectors for Monosynaptic Tracing and Targeted Transgene Expression in Neurons

Deletion-mutant rabies viral (RV) vectors are powerful tools for neuroscience, allowing monosynaptic tracing of inputs to defined populations and rapid, high-level transgene expression in neurons targeted by multiple routes. High titers and high purity are critical for the successful use of RV vectors in vivo. Here we present a protocol for producing high-quality viral stocks that can be concentrated by ultracentrifugation for final titers in excess of 10 10 infectious units per milliliter.