HepG2 cells support viral replication and gene expression of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in vitro

Figure 2 Monitoring of active viral replication at regular time intervals post infection of HepG2 cells. RNA was extracted from infected cells and infectious supernatants and their passages at 1, 2 and 4 wk post infection and nested RT-PCR was carried out for detection of both viral strands. Results showed the presence of both viral strands in RNA extracted from cells 1 wk post infection (lanes 1, 2) but only the sense strand was detectable in the supernatant at this time point (lane 3) while the antisense strand was absent (lane 4). At 2 and 4 wk post infection, both viral strands were detectable in both cells and supernatant. Lanes 6-9 show the presence of both sense and antisense strands in both cells and supernatant at 4 wk post infection. Lane 5 shows molecular weight standard DNA marker (Ǿ-X-174/HaeIII; Q-BIOgene, Germany).