FIG. 7.

Sera from various time points were tested for TMEV-specific antibodies by Western blot analysis. Two weeks after three DNA injections, mice were injected with TMEV intracerebrally. Prior to TMEV inoculation, mice vaccinated three times with pCMV/VP1 (lane 2) and pCMV/VP2 (lane 3), but not with pCMV (lane 1) or pCMV/VP3 (lane 3), demonstrated antibodies to TMEV capsid proteins VP1 and VP2, respectively. Sixty days postinfection (p.i.), antibodies to VP1, VP2, and at times VP3 were detectable in all vaccinated mice (lanes 5 to 7). Hyperimmune serum to TMEV was used as a positive control (lane 8). Molecular weights: VP1, 37,000; VP2, 34,000; VP3, 27,000.