FIG. 2.
Levels of specific antibodies in the feces and vaginal washes of mice immunized with HIV-VLPAs. At 3, 7, and 9 weeks following the primary immunization, each group of mice was administered the same amount of antigen, and a week later, fecal samples and vaginal washes were obtained for each animal. Levels of specific IgG and IgA antibodies in the feces (A and B) and in the vaginal washes (C and D) were evaluated by ELISA, performed in triplicate on 96-well plates coated with 2.5 μg of HIV-VLPAs. In each panel, results are represented as the average OD at 492 nm observed in individual animals at a 1:5 dilution of mucosal samples. Data from the two independent experiments, with three mice per group per experiment, are indicated by open and full symbols. Reactions were considered positive when the absorbance exceeded the average absorbance of samples from control animals by a factor of 2. Bars represent the cumulative mean of each group ± the standard deviation. P values are indicated for intergroup comparisons.