Application of Fluorescent Probes in Single-Virus Particle Tracking

Viruses are highly infectious pathogens responsible for widespread diseases, making the study of their infection mechanisms crucial for developing targeted therapeutic interventions. Single-virus particle tracking (SVT) has become a valuable technique for visualizing viral behavior in real-time, providing insights into virus-host interactions. Fluorescent probes, including fluorescent proteins, organic dyes, and nanomaterials like quantum dots, are widely used in SVT to label and track individual viral particles. This review provides an overview of commonly used fluorescent probes and their applications in viral tracking, highlighting their advantages and limitations. The development of new fluorescent probes offers the potential for more precise and long-term tracking of viral particles, contributing to a deeper understanding of viral infections. Finally, we offer our perspectives on the future possibilities and challenges associated with single- virus tracking.