Figure 2: Function of VP35 and VP24 variants in replication and transcription.

(a) Minigenome reporter activity in presence of VP35 variants. 293 cells were transfected with a monocistronic EBOV minigenome plasmid¹² along with plasmids encoding the T7 polymerase and the EBOV proteins L, NP and VP30, as well as varying amounts of the different VP35 variants. After 48 h, cells were harvested and minigenome reporter activity reflecting viral genome replication and transcription was measured. The mean and s.d. shown represent six biological replicates from two independent experiments. Due to the large range of values, data are shown on a log scale. (b) Minigenome reporter activity with cotransfection of VP24 variants. 293 cells were transfected with an expression plasmid for EBOV Mayinga VP35 and the other plasmids as described for a. The different VP24 variants were coexpressed in increasing concentrations. After 48 h, cells were harvested and minigenome reporter activity was measured. The mean and s.d. shown represent six biological replicates from two independent experiments.