Figure 5.

Lab-attenuated rabies virus (RABV) infects astrocytes lacking mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) in the same manner as wt RABV. (A,B) Wild-type (wt), MAVS−/−, or TLR7−/− astrocytes were infected with DRV or B2c at an MOI of 0.01. At the indicated time points, the viral titers in the cell culture supernatant were determined by virus titration. (C,D) Primary astrocytes were treated with BX795 at a dose of 1 µM or DMSO, and then infected with DRV or B2c at an MOI of 0.01, at the indicated time points, the viral titers in the cell culture supernatant were determined by virus titration. (E,F) Wt, TLR7−/− or MAVS−/− astrocytes were infected with DRV or B2c at an MOI of 0.01, fixed with paraformaldehyde and then stained with anti-RABV N antibodies or DAPI, and the viral infected cells were calculated from five different areas. The scale bars represent 200 µm. (G,H) At 7 days postinfection, the cerebral cortex sections from MAVS−/− mice were subsequently stained with antibodies against GAFP (red), RABV P (green), or DAPI (blue), and then visualized under a confocal microscope, and the viral infected astrocytes were calculated from five different areas. The white arrow indicates RABV-infected astrocytes. The scale bars represent 50 µm. The infected cells were quantified by ImageJ software and statistical analysis was applied.