FIG 2.

HSV-1 genome copies during acute infection. (A) HSV-1 strain KOS(M) delivers and maintains significantly higher genome copies than 17syn⁺ during the acute infection of LUHMES neurons. HSV-1 genome copy numbers were tracked by qPCR using primers and probes designed against UL30 over a 24-h time course of infection of LUHMES cells with either 17syn⁺ or KOS(M) at an MOI of 5. (B) HSV-1 strain 17syn⁺ genome copies were determined as described above. A significant difference in genome copies was seen 12 and 24 h postinfection compared to levels at 0 h. Interestingly, at 12 h postinfection, genomic copies were reduced compared to those at 0 h, and input genomes appear to have replicated by 24 h postinfection. (C) HSV-1 strain KOS(M) input genomes undergo statistically signification replication by 24 h postinfection compared to levels at 0 h. For each time point, significance was determined by ordinary two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple-comparison test across 6 biological replicates (*, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.0001) (n = 6).