Deletion of XBP-1 impairs MCMV infection in vivo.

<p>RERT XBP-1^f/f mice were treated with either vehicle or tamoxifen. One week later mice were infected with a luciferase expressing MCMV. Mice were sacrificed 4 dpi and organs were extracted. (A) Liver paraffin-embedded sections were decorated with αIE1 to visualize viral foci. (B+E) viral genome copy number in mg tissue was determined using quantitative RT-PCR analysis of viral M55(gB) and the host gene pThrp in liver (B) and lung (E) (n = 3). The expression of representative viral RNA (IE1, E1 and M55(gB)) in liver (C) or lung (F) was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and calculated relative to vehicle treated animals (n = 6 (vehicle), n = 8 (tamoxifen)). Luciferase activity, representing viral protein expression was measured in liver (D) or lung (G) (n = 6 (vehicle), n = 7 (tamoxifen). Results are shown as mean ± SEM and are combined from two independent experiments. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01.