Brain cells aglow after viral delivery

Newly identified virus could help replace faulty genes in human cells

cross-section of a mouse brain

PACKAGE DELIVERED  The whitish dots in this micrograph are neurons called Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of a mouse. Their color is due to a gene the cells received from the virus AAV-PHP.B.

B. Deverman and the Gradinaru laboratory/Caltech

In a multivirus competition, a newcomer came out on top for its ability to transport genetic cargo to a mouse’s brain cells.