Replication of VZV gM mutants was assessed in human skin xenografts in two separate experiments (A and B). Skin xenografts were inoculated by scarification with 50 ¼l/implant cell-associated VZV at 105 PFU/mL. Infected skin xenografts were harvested at 11 and 21 days after inocualation. Skin homogenates were titered onto MeWo cells and stained 3 days later. Color coding is as follows: rVOka (black), gM C-term stop (brown), gM Y373A (green), gM LL425HV (red), gM Y373A+LL425HV (yellow), gM double YXXphi (purple), gM triple mutant (orange). At the bottom of each graph, the number of VZV-positive xenografts and total number inoculated are shown. (*) indicates p<0.05 by Student’s t test.