Fig. 2
Expression and assembly of VSP-VLPs ZIKV-E. (A) Fluorescence microscopy was conducted after transfecting VSP-expressing cells with the DNA constructs pZIKV-E and/or pGag. The expression of each specific protein is indicated at the top of each image, using the corresponding fluorescence color. Cells were analyzed for the expression of ZIKV-E and VSP proteins after incubating with the respective specific antibodies, followed by a fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody. The expression of MLV-Gag was visualized by the fluorescence emitted from eYFP. In all fluorescence images, nuclei are labeled with DAPI (blue), and the yellow signal indicates co-expression. (B) Purified VSP-VLPs ZIKV-E were examined through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunogold labeling, which confirmed the proper display of ZIKV-E (left), VSP (center) and MLV-Gag (right). Specific monoclonal antibodies were employed to identify the various components present in the particles. Immunogold-positive signals (black dots) corresponding to the specific markers are indicated by blue arrows.
