Figure 11. HPV Ivag, but not Ad5 i.m., prime/boost immunization reduces viral titers in the cervicovaginal mucosa after vaginal challenge with recombinant M2_82–90–VV.

Depo-Provera–treated mice were immunized with 5 × 10⁷ IU HPV16MM2 Ivag or with 5 × 10⁷ PFU Ad5-MM2 i.m., and 1 month later mice were immunized with 5 × 10⁷ IU HPV45MM2 or Ad5-MM2 i.m., respectively. Two months after the last immunization, mice were challenged Ivag with 1 × 10⁷ PFU of recombinant M2_82–90–VV. Three days after challenge, vaginal tissue was collected, and recombinant VV titers were determined by plaque assays. Results are expressed as PFU per vagina for individual mice (symbols) and geometric mean (horizontal bars). Data are representative of 3 experiments (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn’s test).