Trans-complementation of WT D2 NS5 in replication-deficient NS5 D4MT/D2POL chimeric RNA-transfected BHK-21 cells.
A, NS5 D4MT/D2POL chimeric RNA and pCMV-D2 NS5 expression plasmid (35) were cotransfected into BHK-21 cells. Viral replication was evaluated by IFA of NS1 protein expression. Top left, the NS1-positive cells after 9 days post-transfection. There were clusters of NS1-positive cells seen on day 9 post-transfection (top right). On day 15, most of the monolayer cells were NS1-positive (bottom). B, NS5 chimera viral RNA levels were measured by qPCR on day 15. Error bars, S.E.