By Beth Kenkel
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Since Addgene began producing AAV vector preparations, we have used quantitative PCR to evaluate the physical titer of our preps. We often repeat this assay to confirm that our results are accurate. But what if we could repeat this assay 10,000 times to ensure that our titers ...
Understanding the biology behind brain development, learning, and behavior poses many challenges in neuroscience with many brain regions, neuronal networks, and specific neuronal populations to consider. To tease apart how different neurons impact a certain output, ...
One of the biggest barriers to gene therapy treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases is the blood brain barrier (BBB). It’s the BBB’s job to block the entry of pathogens to the CNS, but this also stops viral vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV), from reaching ...
Since rolling out our viral service in 2016, Addgene has shipped thousands of AAV and lentiviral preps to scientists around the world. In the years since, our scientists have optimized many steps in the viral production and quality control process to improve both the yield and ...
My lab's vector of choice is AAV, with nearly every experiment requiring AAV. Before joining my lab, I had never worked with AAV, so naturally I had to package some virus for my first experiment. It was a bit intimidating, but I had my lab’s protocols and some great co-workers ...
Background on neuronal tracing A key aspect to understanding the brain’s function is knowing its architecture, in particular the connections between different brain regions. For example, communication between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex brain regions is involved in ...
It was by serendipity that I got into the field of gene therapy, more specifically AAV-based retinal gene therapy. The year was 2001 and I started a job as a technician in a lab using adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) to treat an inherited retinal degenerative disease called ...