As predicted, reduced expression of EXOSC2 was associated with a significant reduction in viral infectivity (72% reduction, P = 0.004, paired t test, Fig 3B) and in viral genome replication (N1: 62% reduction, P = 0.02; N2: 74% reduction, P = 0.03; paired t test, Fig 3C and D) compared with infection of WT unedited Calu-3 cells. Here, EXOSC2 is linked to infection.