Figure 5. Targeting of LGTV genome for tick-specific miRNAs blocks virus infectivity and replication in Ixodes ricinus ticks.

I. ricinus nymphs were submerged for 45 min in Opti-Pro medium containing ~7 log₁₀ pfu/mL of indicated virus and then were returned to glass vials for 21 (A) or 51 (B) days of incubation. Virus titer in each tick body suspension was determined in Vero cells. Horizontal line represents the mean virus titer for all nymphs in the group. The dashed line indicates the limit of virus detection [0.1 log₁₀ pfu/mL]. Differences in infection rates between unmodified E5 virus and one of miRNA targeted [C(mir)/3′(mir) or C(mir)/E(mir)3′(mir)] or scrambled control [C(scr)/E(scr)3′(scr)] viruses were compared using one-tailed Fisher’s exact test, followed by p-values adjustment using Bonferroni correction method to account for multiple comparisons.