FIG 6.

Effect of E1 mutations on the recognition of HCV receptors. (A to D) Huh-7 cells were preincubated for 2 h at 37°C with increasing concentrations of antibodies targeting HCV receptors: anti-CD81 MAb JS81, anti-SR-BI MAb Cla-I, anti-CLDN1 MAb OM8A9-A3, and anti-CLDN6 MAb 342927, as indicated. Cells were then incubated with E1 mutants or wild-type virus, and the inoculum was replaced by fresh medium at 6 h postinfection. At 72 h postinfection, cells were processed for immunofluorescence to quantify residual infectivity. The values are the combined data from three independent experiments. The error bars represent standard errors of the means. Results were compared to those for the wild type, and a P value of <0.05 was determined for mutants T213A and I262A in the presence of anti-CLDN1 and anti-CLDN6 antibodies. (E) Effect of E1 mutations on the recognition of CLDN1 and CLDN6. Huh-7 cells were preincubated for 2 h at 37°C with a combination of anti-CLDN1 (5 μg/ml) and anti-CLDN6 (10 μg/ml) MAbs. Cells were then incubated with E1 mutants or wild-type virus, and the inoculum was replaced by fresh medium at 6 h postinfection. At 72 h postinfection, cells were processed for immunofluorescence to quantify the residual infectivity. The values are the combined data from three independent experiments. The error bars represent standard errors of the means.