Figure 2.

Silencing effect of HCV-3a genes-specific siRNAs show a dramatic reduction of viral titer in Huh-7 cells infected with HCV-3a sera. Huh-7 cells were infected with high titer sera samples from HCV-3a patients (S3a) to establish in vitro cell culture model of HCV-3a, cells were maintained overnight at 37°C in 5% CO₂ for three days. Cells were harvested after siRNA treatment 48 hrs post transfection and intracellular HCV RNA levels were quantified by Real Time PCR. Data is expressed as mean percent viral load of non-siRNA treated samples. Nine independent experiments each with triplicate determinations were performed with different sera infected cells. Error bars indicate, mean S.D p < 0.05 verses S3a.