Fig 4.

Rectal SIV-specific cell-mediated T-cell responses during immunization. (A and B) SIV-specific CD4⁺ (Gag [A] and Env [left graph in panel B]) and CD8⁺ T-cell responses (Gag [A] and Env [right graph in panel B]) were detected in MNC isolated from rectal biopsy specimens 2 weeks after the third DNA dose (week 26), 2 weeks after the boost with rMVA (week 34), and 4 weeks after the boost with inactivated SIVmac239 particles (week 54) and are represented as a bar graph for each animal in all four vaccinated groups. Each bar represents the sum of anti-Gag or anti-Env-specific T cells producing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 alone or as a double- or triple-cytokine combination, after stimulation with Gag or Env peptide pools. (C to E) Diversity of rectal SIV-specific cell-mediated T-cell responses during immunization. Pie graphs illustrate the diversity of Gag-specific (C) and Env-specific (D) T cells producing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 for each group detected at 3 time points, after the third DNA dose (week 26), 2 weeks after the MVA boost (week 34), and 4 weeks after the boost with inactivated SIVmac239 particles (week 54). The SIV-specific T-cell mean percentage of the total CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells is shown for each group beneath each pie. (E) Total mean percentage of SIV-specific Gag⁺ plus Env⁺ CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell response detected 6 weeks after the last immunization is shown for each vaccinated group. Statistical significance was evaluated by one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni posttest. A P of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.