Figure 1. Loss of ESCRT components TSG101 and VPS4 inhibits papillomavirus infection.

Panel A. HaCaT cells were transfected with siRNAs against TSG101, VPS4A, VPS4B, HRS or scrambled siRNA (siCTRL) as a control. After 72 h the cells were infected with different PsVs: HPV-16, HPV-5, BPV-1, SfPV-1, MmuPV-1, all carrying a luciferase reporter plasmid. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) was used for comparison. After 48 h the cells were harvested and the level of luciferase activity was measured in triplicate by luminometry. The values were corrected for background luminescence and normalized to siCTRL transfected cells infected with the same type of pseudovirus. Results are expressed as means with the standard deviations of at least three independent experiments. *P ≤ 0.05; **P ≤ 0.01; ***P ≤ 0.001. Panel B. Western blot showing the levels of TSG101, VPS4A, VPS4B and HRS in HaCaT cells following transfection with the different siRNAs. Alpha-actinin was used as a loading control.