Fig. 2.

In vitro HBV infection of rhesus macaque PH. a Predicted schematic of NTCP showing amino acid differences between human and macaque NTCP. Differences in the sequences were labeled with lighter red for amino acid exchanges with similar physiochemical properties and darker red for exchanges with different physiochemical properties. Gray box represents cellular membrane. N-linked glycosylation sites represented by black brackets. macNTCP = macaque NTCP. b Rhesus macaque PH were transduced with either HDAd-hNTCP (MOI = 2) or AAV-hNTCP (MOI = 1 × 10⁴) and stained 3 days later with Myrcludex B-atto488. c Rhesus macaque and baboon PH were transduced with either HDAd-hNTCP (MOI = 2) or AAV-hNTCP (MOI = 1 × 10⁴) and infected with HBV (MOI = 100) 3 days later. Productive infection was monitored by quantification of HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant by ELISA. Each condition represents a single-biological sample (N = 1). Figure is representative data of two separate experiments. d HBV DNA qPCR on the same supernatants shown in c. Each condition represents a single-biological sample (N = 1). e Total intracellular DNA from 1 × 10⁶ rhesus macaque PH and HepG2-hNTCP cells was used in a cccDNA-specific qPCR. Rhesus macaque PH transduced with AAV-hNTCP (MOI = 1 × 10⁴) and infected with HBV (MOI = 100) 3 days later showed formation of cccDNA, while the non-transduced, HBV challenged PH did not. Bars represent standard error of measurement from two qPCR replicates. f Southern blot shows presence of cccDNA in rhesus macaque PH transduced with AAV-hNTCP (MOI = 1 × 10⁴) and infected with HBV (MOI = 100). DNA was purified after Hirt extraction to remove protein-bound DNA forms. SM = size marker; T5 Exo = T5 exonuclease; PF-rcDNA = polymerase-free relaxed circular DNA; PF-dlDNA = polymerase-free duplex linear DNA. Figure is representative data of two separate experiments. g Neonate rhesus macaque PH were transduced with AAV-hNTCP (MOI = 1 × 10⁴ or 5 × 10²) and infected with HBV (MOI = 100) 3 days later. HBV infection was then monitored longitudinally by HBsAg ELISA. Each condition represents a single-biological sample (N = 1)