Figure 3. VNA production and protection by rRABVs after i.m. immunization.

Groups of 10 ICR mice were immunized with 1×10⁶ FFU of LBNSE, LBNSE-GMCSF, LBNSE-Flagellin, or DMEM by the i.m. route. At 21 days post immunization, blood was collected and serum was separated for VNA test by RFFIT (A).For protection studies, mice (25 in each group) were immunized as above. At 21 days after immunization, immunized mice were challenged with 50 MICLD₅₀ of CVS-24 and observed daily for 2 weeks. The numbers of survivors were recorded and compared (B). Asterisks indicate significant differences between the experimental groups as analyzed by one-way ANOVA or Fisher’s exact test (χ²).(*,P<0.05;**,P<0.01;***,P<0.001).