FIG 1.

Comparison of cccDNA transcription with and without HBc in HBVcircle transfection model. (A) Schematic representation of the experimental setting. Huh7 cells were transfected with HBVcircle-WT or HBVcircle-Δcore in 48-well plates, and the culture supernatants were collected at 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days posttransfection (dpt). (B) The expression of HBc protein was detected by Western blotting. (C) The levels of HBeAg and HBsAg in supernatants were measured by ELISA. OD₄₅₀, optical density at 450 nm. (D) The levels of HBsAg and HBc protein in HBVcircle-transfected Huh7 cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Bar, 50 μm. (E) The relative levels of HBV RNA and HBVcircle DNA were determined by qPCR. (F) HBVcircle DNA and RNA were detected by Southern and Northern blotting, respectively. (G) Schematic representation of the experimental setting, PHHs were transfected with HBVcircle-WT or HBVcircle-Δcore in 48-well plates, and the culture supernatants were collected at 2 days and 4 days posttransfection (dpt). (H) The levels of HBsAg in supernatants were evaluated by ELISA after 1:5 dilution. (I) The relative levels of intracellular HBV RNA and HBVcircle DNA were determined by qPCR. Data were presented as mean ± SD. SB, Southern bloting; NB, Northern bloting.