Fig. 2

Analysis of HTNV-specific IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺T-cell responses of HLA-A2.1/K^b Tg mice after immunization by different peptides. Comparison of the frequencies (y-axis) of IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺ T-cells in ex vivo ELISPOT assay among the different immunization groups (x-axis). The Tg mice were divided into five groups according to the different immunization, including HTNV linear multi-epitope peptide PADRE-VV9, HLA-A*02-restricted single HTNV-GP CTL epitope VV9, HLA-B*35-restricted HTNV-NP CTL epitope VY9 as an unrelated peptide control, HTNV-inactivated vaccine as a positive control and PBS as a negative control, respectively. The frequencies of the IFN-γ secreting CD8⁺ T-cell responses are represented as the SFC/10⁶ splenocytes. The unpaired t test was used for statistical evaluation. IFN, interferon. SFC, spot-forming cells. PBS, phosphate buffer saline. VV9, VMASLVWPV. VY9, VPILLKALY. PADRE, AKXVAAWTLKAAA, X = cyclohexylalanine. ****P < 0.0001; **P < 0.01. ns, not significant