FIG 8.
Expression of a functional endogenous mMx1 protein is associated with reduced lesion severity and HSV-1 virus titers in the zosteriform model of HSV-1 infection. Groups of B6.WT and B6.A2G-Mx1 mice (n = 5/group) were infected via flank scarification with 106 PFU of HSV-1 KOS. Mice were monitored daily, and lesions were photographed every second day. (a) Images of representative skin lesions from the group (left panels) or an individual (right panel) B6.WT and B6.A2G-Mx1 mouse at 7 days postinfection are shown. Regions corresponding to the primary (P) and secondary (S) sites are indicated. (b) Lesion severity was determined using the scoring system described in Materials and Methods. Lesion images were photographed every second day and then scored blind by three assessors. Average scores from individual mice across the three assessors are shown as circles, and bars represent the mean lesion scores (±SD). (c) At 5 dpi, animals were killed, skin samples (corresponding to the primary and secondary sites) and the DRG were removed, and titers of infectious virus were determined in clarified homogenates by plaque assay on Vero cells. (d) To assess reactivation of latent virus, DRG collected at day 35 postinfection were cultured in vitro for 5 days before the plaque assay was performed on clarified supernatants in Vero cells. Data were pooled from two experiments (n = 7/group). For panels c and d, the dashed line indicates the detection limit of the plaque assay. Data were from one of two independent experiments for panel a and pooled from two independent experiments for panels b to d. Statistical significance was determined by Student's t test. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ns, not significant.