Fig 2.
Eimeria Ag-specific IL-16- and Th1 cytokine-secreting cells and proliferative responses. Chickens were nonimmunized and noninfected (group I), nonimmunized and infected (group II), or immunized with Ag-pulsed DC-derived exosomes at day 1 and orally coinfected with sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. acervulina at day 11 (group III). Eimeria Ag-stimulated IL-16-, IL-2-, and IFN-γ-secreting cells in the spleen, cecal tonsils, and Peyer's patches at 6 days postinfection were quantified by ELISPOT assay. Ag-stimulated proliferative responses were measured by BrdU incorporation and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each bar represents the mean ± SD value from three independent experiments. Within each graph, bars with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) according to Duncan's multiple-range test.