Similar to our findings made by EPO of HepG2/C3A cells, expression of ISG15 (Fig 3H), IFNL1, and an additional ISG, IFIT1, (S9D and S9E Fig) peaked on day 5 post-ΔORF2 infection and decreased again to a similar level as WT on day 7 post-infection. This evidence concerns the gene EPO and infection.