AAV is a small, non-integrating vector that persists episomally in most post-mitotic cells. It is preferred for in vivo delivery and gene therapy research. Lentiviral vectors integrate stably into the host genome and transduce both dividing and non-dividing cells, making them standard for generating stable cell lines. AAV has a smaller cargo capacity of approximately 4.7 kb, compared with approximately 8 kb for lentiviral vectors.
Cloning & Expression Systems
Viral Expression Systems: AAV, Retroviral & Adenoviral Vectors
Viral expression systems: AAV, adenoviral, and retroviral vectors for higher transduction efficiency
The vector family you choose sets your transduction efficiency and integration outcome before the experiment starts. Viral delivery spans dividing and post-mitotic cells across four vector families, each suited to different research needs.
For your AAV work, pre-titered blank control viruses across serotypes 1 to 11 are available, alongside serotype-specific packaging mixes, qPCR titration kits and transduction enhancer reagents. For adenoviral work, purification kits let you concentrate and polish your own amplified prep. For your retroviral applications, supernatant concentration reagents, individual packaging plasmids for VSV-G envelope and Gag-Pol, and ecotropic, amphotropic and pantropic packaging cell lines are available as catalogue items.
Custom AAV production and pseudotyping services are available at quoted pricing through service catalogue entries for your project. Serotype selection for AAV, tropism choice for retrovirus, and packaging cell line compatibility are the three key decisions before you order.
Lentivirus is the most widely used viral expression system. It gives you stable integration and long-term expression across dividing and post-mitotic targets. Lentiviral packaging kits and matched products to fit your workflow are available at Lentiviral Expression Systems.
Choosing your vector family by tropism and integration requirement
1. Post-mitotic or non-dividing cells; in vivo gene delivery. AAV is widely used for in vivo and post-mitotic-cell gene delivery. Serotype tropism tendencies are general guides only. For example, AAV2 is commonly used for CNS and retinal targets, AAV8 and AAV9 favour liver and muscle, and AAV6 favours haematopoietic cells. You must validate capsid choice for the specific species, strain, route, dose, promoter, and target tissue. The packaging mix matched to the serotype needed, plus a blank control virus for titre validation, completes your AAV order.
2. Dividing and non-dividing cells, stable integration not required. Adenovirus delivers high transient expression with broad tropism; expression is non-integrating and typically persists for about 1 to 2 weeks depending on cell type. A commercial purification kit helps if you are concentrating your own amplified prep.
3. Stable integration in dividing cells. Retrovirus integrates only into replicating cells. A Gag-Pol expression plasmid pairs with a VSV-G envelope plasmid and a matched packaging cell line. Ecotropic tropism suits mouse and rat cells only, amphotropic covers broader mammalian tropism, and pantropic gives the widest range for your project.
4. Custom serotype or large-scale production. Custom AAV production, alternative pseudotyping, and library-scale lentiviral packaging services are available at quoted pricing. Scope and lead time for your project are listed with each catalogue entry.
Parent category: Cloning & Expression Systems
Applications
In vivo gene delivery and animal model generation
AAV delivers transgenes to liver, skeletal muscle, CNS and retina in mouse, rat and primate models, with tropism set by serotype.
Transient high-level protein expression
Adenoviral vectors drive strong transient expression across dividing cell types.
Gene therapy research models
AAV vectors support preclinical models for metabolic disorders, muscular dystrophy and neurological disease, testing gene replacement.
Custom vector production and pseudotyping
Custom AAV production and alternative capsid pseudotyping suit your project if it needs a serotype outside the standard panel, priced per project scope.
Product Catalog
Browse the Catalog
Adeno-associated Virus (AAV) Technology
Browse catalog
Adenovirus Technology
Browse catalog
Retrovirus Technology
Browse catalog
Frequently asked questions
Serotype determines cellular tropism. AAV2 has broad CNS and retinal tropism. AAV8 and AAV9 transduce liver and muscle efficiently. AAV6 is effective for haematopoietic cells. AAV-PHP.B and AAV-PHP.eB can show enhanced CNS transduction in selected mouse strains (notably C57BL/6J), but this enhanced tropism does not generalise across all rodent strains or to non-human primates (Hordeaux et al., Mol Ther 2018). Always validate serotype tropism in your specific species, strain, and tissue before you commit to a large experiment.
Product catalogs
Not sure which catalog to start with? We will help you find the right products.
Tell us what you are looking for — antibodies, kits, proteins, or supplies — and our team will point you to the best catalog filters, suppliers, and product matches for your workflow.
