Figure 1.

Generation of oncolytic VACV with deletions in key genes blocking activation of the IRF3 signaling pathway

(A) Schematic diagram of VACV genomes indicating the positions of the viral genes targeted by sequential deletion. For the prospect of monitoring viral replication, an expression cassette encoding the red fluorescent marker protein mCherry was inserted into the thymidine kinase (J2R) site of the virus genomes. (B) PCR analysis to confirm deletions in target genes. Expected size of the PCR products are as follows: C10L = 1,311 bp, ΔC10L = 692 bp; N2L = 1,126 bp, ΔN2L = 670 bp; C6L = 1,083 bp, ΔC6L = 682 bp.