Figure 1.

Higher viral loads in HEV gt1 compared to HEV gt3 infected mice despite similar degrees of human chimerism. Comparison of peak HEV RNA levels as measured by qRT-PCR in serum (a) and in feces (b). At sacrifice viral titers of HEV gt3 and gt1 infected mice were compared in bile (c, n = 7 and n = 6, respectively) and in liver (d). Human albumin levels were determined in mouse serum to quantify degree of chimerism at euthanasia (e). *P < 0.05, n = 20 for HEV gt3 and n = 10 for HEV gt1 (a,b,d,e). Data are pooled from 2, 6, and 14 weeks infection experiments. Red dots indicate mice who received a diluted HEV inoculum (a–d).