Figure 3.

Comparative hRIG-I inhibitory analysis of Z proteins from different LASV isolates. The hRIG-I inhibitory effects by the respective Z proteins (in a dose-dependent manner) were determined as described above in the Figure 2 legend. (A) The normalized LUC activity by the empty vector control is shown for each Z protein in different doses. Western blot analysis of the tested LASV Z proteins is shown, with those from human viral isolates in red and those from rodent viral isolates in blue. Notable differences in the size of the Z proteins correspond to differences in their primary amino acid sequences. IC₅₀ values were determined by the amount of the Z plasmid required to reduce the LUC reporter activity by 50% and are compared between Z proteins of human and rodent viral isolates (B), between Z proteins of human and rodent viral isolates within the same cluster IV (C), between Z proteins of human and rodent viral isolates within the same country (Sierra Leone) (D), and between Z proteins of human viral isolates between clusters II and IV (E). Each plasmid transfection experiment was conducted in triplicate and repeated in at least two independent experiments. Statistical significance between two groups was determined using the two-tail unpaired Student’s t-test of GraphPad Prism 6 software. Statistical significance: ns, not significant; *, p < 0.05.