Replication-competent adenovirus reporters utilizing endogenous viral expression architecture

This research provides powerful new tools to rapidly study adenovirus gene expression and replication. By integrating fluorescent and secreted luciferase reporters into native viral regulatory elements, we enable real-time, non-destructive tracking of early and late stage infection in living cells. These modular reporters are compatible with a wide range of genetic and chemical perturbations, allowing researchers to investigate the function of specific viral genes, host interactions, and the impact of host genes and antiviral compounds. Importantly, the high-throughput nature of these systems overcomes limitations of traditional plaque assays to quantify viral replication dynamics. Our work will allow for the rapid creation of both novel infectious and replication-incompetent viral vectors.