FIG 5.

Infectivity and replication of wild-type and mutant TNcc strains. RNA transcripts of the parental HCV TN genome and TN mutants were transfected into Huh-7.5 cells. (A) Seventy-two hours later, cell-free supernatant was used for inoculation of naive Huh-7.5 cells. The TCID₅₀ of the variants was determined by a limiting-dilution assay and staining with core and NS5A-specific antibodies. (B) RNA levels at 72 h posttransfection were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The RNA levels in the presence of 2′methyladenosin (2′CMA) was used for normalization. The ratio of measured HCV RNA to measured RNA levels in the presence of 2′CMA was calculated for each construct. The data from four independent experiments are shown.