Fig. 1

The distribution of autophagy proteins in PRRSV-infected Marc-145 cells. a Marc-145 cells were transfected with GFP-LC3 plasmids and cultured with either DMEM or HBSS media for 4 h or were infected with PRRSV CH-1a for 24 h. Fixed cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue), and virions were stained with an antibody against the PRRSV-N protein (red). Scale bars: 10 μm. b Statistical analysis of the number of GFP-LC3 puncta in mock, HBSS-treated or PRRSV-infected cells; the number represents GFP-LC3 puncta per cell; data are presented as means ± SD, n = 30. c LC3 conversion in Marc-145 cells. Marc-145 cells were mock infected, infected with PRRSV for 24 h or cultured in HBSS media. Cells lysates were subjected to immunoblotting. The ratio of LC3II/LC3I reflects the level of autophagy. d Marc-145 cells were infected with PRRSV for 24 h, and fixed cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue); dsRNA and PRRSV-N are labeled in red, and endogenous LC3 is labeled in green. Scale bars: 10 μm