Figure 3.

GFP Expression from JΔNI7GFPΔB and JΔNI8GFPΔB in Infected HDFs and DRGs

(A) Schematic diagram of the genomic structure of the JΔNI8GFPΔB vector derived from JΔNI7GFP¹⁸ by deletion of the vhs (U_L41) gene. Like JΔNI7GFP, JΔNI8GFP contains a CAG promoter-eGFP expression cassette in the LAT intron between an enhancer-like LAT region (LAP2 or LATP2)4, 46, 47 and CTRL2. (B) GFP fluorescence and (C) relative GFP mRNA levels in JΔNI7GFPΔB- and JΔNI8GFPΔB-infected HDFs (25,000 gc/cell) at 7 and 14 dpi. GFP qRT-PCR data were normalized to viral gc in the same samples and are presented as expression relative to that in JΔNI7GFPΔB infected cells at 7 dpi. (D) GFP fluorescence and (E) relative GFP mRNA levels in JΔNI7GFPΔB- and JΔNI8GFPΔB-infected rDRGs (3,000 gc/cell) at 7 and 14 dpi. Data in (C) and (E) represent averages ±SD of two independent experiments.