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. 2023 Jun 9;14:3393. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39090-4

Fig. 4. Nsp1-K164A/H165A vaccination blocks virus propagation and MX1 induction in hamster lungs.

Fig. 4

Syrian hamsters were vaccinated with a low (100 PFU) dose of Nsp1-K164A/H165A or WA1/2020 35 days prior to challenge with Delta or BA.1 isolate on day 0. Serial lung sections from non-infected non-vaccinated hamsters (mock) or hamster at 4 DPC were stained by a H&E or double-immunostained for b SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) and MX1 (interferon-induced antiviral protein). In a, images are shown at one level of magnification (×0.7) while corresponding serial immunostained images in b are shown at two levels of magnification (×0.7 and ×5) with white boxes delimiting the regions of magnification. c Semiquantitative analysis of viral NP staining in hamster lungs at 4 DPC. The plotted values represent the percent NP positive area as a function of the total lung area for each section (n = 3–4 animals per group). d High magnification immunofluorescence/differential interference contrast images of NP and MX1 in representative bronchioles of lung sections from mock hamsters or Delta-infected non-vaccinated or Nsp1-K164A/H165A-vaccinated hamsters at 4 DPC. Prominent cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of MX1 was detected in NP-positive bronchiolar epithelium in Delta-infected unvaccinated hamsters compared to low cytoplasmic expression of MX1 in mock and vaccinated hamsters. Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33342 dye (blue). Scale bars: 5 mm (×0.7), 500 μm (×5), 20 μm (×60). Δ delta variant challenge, Ο omicron BA.1 challenge, DPC days post-challenge.