Figure 4.

Immunofluorescence-based syncytia assay of Hendra virus and Nipah virus infection. Vero cells were plated into 96 well plates and grown to 90% confluence. Cells were pre-treated with heptad peptides for 30 min at 37°C prior to infection with 1.5 × 10³ TCID₅₀/ml and 7.5 × 10² TCID₅₀/ml of live HeV or NiV (combined with peptide). Cells were incubated for 24 hours, fixed in methanol and immunofluorescently stained for P protein prior to digital microscopy. Images were obtained using an Olympus IX71 inverted microscope coupled to an Olympus DP70 high resolution color camera and all images were obtained at an original magnification of 85×. Representative images of FITC immunofluorescence of anti-P labeled HeV and NiV syncytia are shown. A: HeV without peptide. B: HeV with C-PEG-NiV FC2. C: HeV with N-PEG-ScNiV FC2. D: NiV without peptide. E: NiV with N-PEG-NiV FC2. F: NiV with N-PEG-ScNiV FC2.