Figure 3. Skin CD8⁺ T_RM are superior to both antibody and T_CM at protecting against re-infection.

a, µMT mice with OT-I transfer and VACV-Ova skin infection were used to create OT-I : normal parabiotic mice as before. 8 weeks after surgery, parabiotic mice were separated. 2 weeks later, separated mice were challenged with VACV-Ova on the skin. Half mice were injected daily with FTY720. b, 6 days after challenge, skin viral load was assayed by qPCR. c, In separate experiments, µMT mice without OT-I transfer but with VACV skin infection were used to create immunized : unimmunized parabiotic mice. 4 weeks after surgery, the same VACV skin challenge protocol was applied. d-f, 6, 14, or 26 days after challenge, viral load was assayed. The results from duplicate qPCR runs are plotted. Horizontal bars indicate the mean. Data are representative of two independent experiments (n = 5 mice/group). **, P<0.01; N.S., not significant.