Figure 1. Replication of HSV-2 in the genital mucosa of immunized depleted of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells.

Groups of A) μMT or B) WT BALB/c mice were immunized s.c. with 2x10⁶ pfu of HSV-2 5BlacZ and rested for 4 wk, or were left unimmunized. Immunized mice were then depleted of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells by injection of CD4 or CD8-specific monoclonal antibody, and challenged by i.vag. inoculation of 7.5x10⁵ pfu HSV-2 G-6. A third group was injected with control antibody before challenge. Vaginal swab samples were collected at the indicated times post-challenge and titered by standard plaque assay. Data represent the geometric mean titers for 7 to 8 mice per group ± SEM. The experiment was repeated once. Data point at time 0 indicates the inoculum dose. *, P = 0.0138–0.0478; **, P = 0.001; ***, P = <0.0001–0.0003 for CD4-depleted compared with control Ig-depleted mice. (For CD4-depleted compared with CD8-depleted mice: Fig. 1A, P = 0.0478 on day 2, and P = <0.0001–0.0002 on days 3 and 4; Fig. 1B, P = 0.0016–0.0092 on days 1 through 3, and P <0.0001 on day 4.)