Delivering Genes Across the Blood-Brain Barrier (1 of 2) (IMAGE)
Caption
Using a new selection method, Caltech researchers have evolved the protein shell of a harmless virus, AAV9, so that it can more efficiently cross the blood brain barrier and deliver genes, such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP), to cells throughout the central nervous system. Here, GFP expression in naturally occurring AAV9 (left) can be seen distributed sparsely throughout the brain. The modified vector, AAV-PHP.B (right), provides more efficient GFP expression.
Credit
Ben Deverman and the Gradinaru laboratory/Caltech
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