Cell tracking is a useful technique to monitor specific cell populations for their morphology, development, proliferation, migration, interaction, function, and other properties, both in vitro and in vivo. Using different materials and methodologies to label the target cells directly or indirectly, the dynamic biological processes in living organisms can be visualized with appropriate detection techniques. Viruses, with the unique ability to deliver exogenous genes into host cells, have been used as vectors to mediate gene transfer. Genetic labeling of target cells by viral vectors endows the cells to express reporter genes with high efficiency and specificity. In conjunction with corresponding imaging techniques, cells labeled with different genetic reporters mediated by different viral vectors can be monitored across spatial and temporal scales to fulfill various purposes and address different questions. In the present review, we introduce the basic principle of viral vectors in cell tracking and highlight the examples of cell tracking in various research areas.

细胞追踪是一种有用的技术，可在体外和体内监测特定细胞群体的形态，发育，增殖，迁移，相互作用，功能和其他特性。使用不同的材料和方法直接或间接标记靶细胞，可以通过适当的检测技术可视化活生物体中的动态生物学过程。具有将外源基因传递到宿主细胞中的独特能力的病毒已被用作介导基因转移的载体。通过病毒载体对靶细胞进行遗传标记，使细胞能够高效高效地表达报告基因。结合相应的成像技术，可以跨时空尺度监测由不同病毒载体介导的带有不同基因报告基因的细胞，以实现各种目的并解决不同的问题。在目前的评论中，