Fig 6. CLDN6/R209Q and OCLN/P24A mutations do not affect HCV cell-to-cell transmission.

Huh-7 cells were transduced with CLDN6/wt or CLDN6/R209Q mutant and OCLN/wt or OCLN/P24A mutant either alone or in combination. Transduced cells were cocultivated for 24 h with CMFDA-stained donor cells infected with (A) HCVcc 2a or (B) HCVcc 3a in the presence (cell-to-cell transmission) or in the absence (cell-free and cell-to-cell transmission) of the 3–11 neutralizing antibody, which prevents the cell-free transmission. Cells were stained with an anti-NS5 antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry. HCV-positive CMFDA-negative cell populations were considered as newly infected cells through cell-to-cell transmission. Results of cell-free (light grey) and cell-to-cell (black) transmission are presented as percentages relative to the total transmission.