BLIMP1α induces EBV lytic cycle in Akata BL cells. (A) Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrates induction of BZLF1, BRLF1, BNLF2a, BMLF1, and BALF4 mRNA expression after BLIMP1α transfection into Akata BL cells. (B) Immunohistochemistry shows costaining for BLIMP1α HA tag (gray) and VCA or gp350 (red) in transfected Akata cells. Representative examples of double-positive cells taken from the same experiment are shown. Magnification ×800. Images acquired with 60×/1.40 NA oil immersion objective lens (Nikon Ltd).