Figure 5.
Functional Analysis of svRNA-N in SARS-CoV-Infected Mice Using LNA RNA Inhibitors
BALB/c mice were intranasally inoculated with 200 μg (10 mg/kg) of the LNA svRNA-N inhibitor or non-related sequence (nrRNA) as a negative control. After 24 hr, the mice were infected with 105 PFU of SARS-CoV, and their lungs were collected at 2 and 4 dpi.
(A) RT-qPCR analysis of svRNA-N relative expression in the lungs, indicated as a percentage of the expression in mice inoculated with nrRNA. The ΔΔCt method was used for relative quantification, as described in Figure 1; ∗∗∗p value < 0.001.
(B) Average weight of mice over an 8 day period after SARS-CoV infection (day 0), expressed as a percentage of the initial weight. Day −1, inoculation of inhibitor. At least five mice were weighted daily.
(C) Level of SARS-CoV gRNA in infected mice treated with svRNA inhibitors determined by RT-qPCR. The ratio of gRNA (+) in infected to mock-infected lungs is represented, as described in Figure 2; ∗p value < 0.1.
(D) Levels of sgmRNA-N determined by RT-qPCR and calculated as described in (C).
(E) Viral titers in the lungs of SARS-CoV-infected mice treated with the svRNA-N inhibitor. Data are expressed as means with error bars representing SD. Figure legends in (D) and (E) are the same as in (C).