FIG. 6.

Recombinant M. smegmatis-elicited HIV-1-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses in mice preimmunized with BCG. Mice were immunized with wild-type BCG (Pasteur) or PBS and 6 months later with 10⁸ CFU rM. smegmatis expressing gp120 (integrative) (indicated as BCG + rSmeg-gp120 and PBS + rSmeg-gp120, respectively). BCG-preimmunized mice that were subsequently inoculated with rSmeg control were used as a negative control (indicated as BCG + rSmeg control). Tetramer analysis was performed on the PBMC of mice 1 week after inoculation with the rM. smegmatis constructs. The mean (± SEM) percent of HIV-1 HXBc2 gp120 P18-tetramer-positive CD8⁺ T cells is shown for each group (n = 4 to 5 mice per group).