5′UTR functionality in monocyte-derived DCs.
PBMCs were collected from 3 different blood donors (respectively represented by ■, ▪, and ▨), and monocytes were derived to DCs as described in “Materials and methods.” After seeding in 24-well at 1 × 106 cells/mL per well, DCs were infected with vTF7-3 recombinant vaccinia virus and then transfected in triplicate with respective bicistronic constructs, containing each of the identified HCV quasispecies. At 18 hours after transfection cells were lysed and assayed for luciferases activities. For each quasispecies (QD, QL1, QL2, QP1, QP2, and QP3) IRES relative activities were given asRLuc/FLuc ratios normalized to the QD (originated from DCs)RLuc/FLuc ratio. The data bars and error bars represent the means and SDs of 3 independent triplicate transfections.
