Characterizing neuronal cell types demands efficient strategies for specific labeling and manipulation of individual subtypes to dissect their connectivity and functions. Recombinant viral technology offers a powerful toolbox for targeted transgene expression in specific neuronal populations. In order to achieve cell type-specific targeting, exciting progress has been made to: alter viral tropisms, design rational delivery strategies, and drive selective expression patterns with engineered DNA sequences in viral genomes. For the latter case, emerging single-cell genomic analyses provide rich databases. In this review, we will summarize current status, and point out challenges, of using viral vectors for neuronal cell type-specific visualization and manipulations. With concerted efforts, progress will continue to be made toward developing viral vectors for the vast array of neuronal subtypes in the mammalian nervous system.

中文翻译：

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用于神经元细胞类型特异性可视化和操作的病毒载体。

表征神经元细胞类型需要有效的策略来对单个亚型进行特定标记和操作，以剖析它们的连接性和功能。重组病毒技术为特定神经元群体中的靶向转基因表达提供了强大的工具箱。为了实现细胞类型特异性靶向，在以下方面取得了令人振奋的进展：改变病毒的趋向性、设计合理的递送策略以及利用病毒基因组中的工程 DNA 序列驱动选择性表达模式。对于后一种情况，新兴的单细胞基因组分析提供了丰富的数据库。在这篇综述中，我们将总结使用病毒载体进行神经元细胞类型特异性可视化和操作的现状，并指出挑战。在大家的共同努力下，