FIG 5.

A two-part HCV infection assay shows distinct patterns between HCV early-stage and late-stage inhibitors. Huh7.5.1 cells cultured in 96-well plates were infected with HCV-WT (MOI, 0.05), together with compounds in 1:3 serial dilutions starting at 30 μM (part 1). Culture media were transferred to a replica plate with fresh cells after 48 h of culture (part 2). Cells from both parts were processed for HCV core immunofluorescent staining. Cell nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst dye, and percentages of HCV core-positive cells were calculated and normalized against the DMSO control and plotted as dose-dependent curves. Representatives of 2 early-stage inhibitors (flunarizine and cyclosporine) and late-stage HCV inhibitors (BIO and DAG kinase inhibitor I) are shown. The data are means ± SEM from 8 replicates.