Gene transfer techniques for study of songbird brain circuit

鸟类为探索大脑回路的发育和功能提供了一个有吸引力的模型系统。到目前为止，电穿孔和逆转录病毒(包括慢病毒)载体介导的基因转移技术被广泛用于将遗传物质导入禽类细胞。然而，在不损伤细胞的情况下有效地转导禽类有丝分裂后神经元仍然是具有挑战性的。为了克服这一问题，我们寻找了一种适合于将基因转移到禽神经元的病毒载体，并鉴定了一种新型的重组病毒载体--禽腺相关病毒(A3V)载体。

Avian species have provided an attractive model system to explore the development and function of brain circuits. Electroporation-mediated and retrovirus(including lentivirus) vector-mediated gene transfer techniques have so far widely been used for introducing genetic material into avian cells. However, it is still challenging to efficiently transduce avian postmitotic neurons without harming the cells. To overcome this problem, we searched a virus vector suitable for gene transfer into avian neurons, and characterize a novel recombinant virus vector, avian adeno-associated virus(A3V) vector.