Figure 8.

SARS‐CoV‐2 ORF9b overexpression impairs TBK1‐dependent antiviral immunity. Plasmids were transfected into HEK‐293 cells as indicated. Twenty‐four hours after transfection, the cells were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)–enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) (MOI = 0.001). Ten hours after infection, (A) the GFP‐positive cells were observed and analyzed with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, and (B) the culture supernatant (20 h postinfection) was harvested for plaque assays to measure the titer of extracellular VSV–eGFP. The fluorescence imaging results are representative of two independent experiments. Scale bar = 50 μm. In Panel b, the results from one representative experiment are shown, three independent biological replicates were analyzed, and the error bars indicate the SD. The statistical significance is shown as indicated. E.V., empty vector; IRF3, IFN regulatory factor 3; MOI, multiplicity of infection; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TBK1, TANK‐binding kinase 1