Figure 2.
Expression of IFNs and IFITM family is strongly upregulated in duck in response to ATMUV infection. Twenty five 7-day-old healthy mule ducklings were challenged by intramuscular injection with 4.0 × 105 ELD50 of ATMUV in a volume of 0.4 mL per duckling. Three randomly selected ducklings were sacrificed at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hpi, respectively. Their spleen tissues were collected for examination of IFN-α (A), IFN-β (B), IFN-λ (C), and IFITM1, 2, 3 (D–F) mRNA expression using qRT-PCR. The mRNA levels were normalized to the endogenous β-actin level and the expression at 0 hpi was set to 1.0. Expression at 12–72 hpi was compared to its expression at 0 hpi. Each sample was analyzed in triplicate and the results are depicted as means ± SD (n = 3). Statistical significance was determined by one tail Student's t-test analysis. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.