(A) The effect of NS3-Q80K on the RNA replication capacity was measured by GLuc assay in the H77S.3/GLuc2A (left, upper panel) or the N.2/GLuc2A genetic background (left, lower panel). Results are normalized to GLuc activity at 6 hrs post transfection, and represent the mean ± standard deviation of triplicate samples. (B) The effect of NS3-Q80K on the infectious virus production from the H77S.3 (right, upper panel) or the N.2 background (right, lower panel) was measured by a focus forming unit (FFU) assay from cell culture supernatant fluids collected every 24 hr post transfection. Data represent the mean ± standard deviation from at least 3 independent experiments.