The Epstein-Barr Virus BART miRNA Cluster of the M81 Strain Modulates Multiple Functions in Primary B Cells
Fig 6
Deletion of the BART miRNAs enhances spontaneous lytic replication and tumor progression in the humanized mice model.
Viral titers in peripheral blood of infected mice were determined by quantitative PCR at (A) 5 weeks post-infection. (B) The pictures show tumors that developed in the spleen. Continuous tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), immunostained with antibodies specific for BZLF1, gp350, LMP1, EBNA2, or subjected to an in situ hybridization with an EBER-specific probe. Among five M81-Wt-infected mice, 3 mice (referred to as group I) had very few whilst the other 2 mice (referred to as group II) exhibited a higher percentage of BZLF1-positive cells. (C) The number of EBER positive cells per 0.04μm2 (surface of the field at high magnification) is given in this boxplot. (D-G) The boxplots display the ratio between (D) BZLF1-, (E) gp350-, (F) LMP1-, or (G) EBNA2-positive cells versus EBER-positive cells. The data collected from the mice euthanized at week 5 are shown as open squares. (H) This graph shows the tumor incidence for humanized mice investigated in this study. We used a one-tailed Chi-square analysis in figure H and two-tailed unpaired student t test for all other results.