Effects of SARS-CoV E protein IC activity on virus growth in BALB/c mice lungs.

<p>Groups of six 16 week-old BALB/c mice were infected with 100000 PFU of viruses displaying E protein IC activity (EIC⁺), either the parental virus (wt, black columns) or the genetically engineered revertant viruses V25F T30I (purple columns) and N15D (deep-red columns) or with the mutant lacking IC activity (EIC⁻) N15A (red columns). At 2 and 4 days post infection (dpi) 3 mice from each group were sacrificed to determine virus titers.