Fig 8.

While HPV-16-type-specific titers are similar, the oxidized monomer surpasses its reduced counterpart in terms of cross-protective titers. The Cys → Ser exchange (1× DM-TrxL2) in the Trx scaffold lowers immunogenicity, but reduction restores it. Mice were immunized with monomeric TrxL2 proteins that were in an oxidized or reduced state. Shown here is a comparison of the induction of neutralizing antibodies by 1×-TrxL2 and 1× DM-TrxL2−, a protein in which both scaffold cysteines were exchanged for serines. For HPV-16 and HPV-58, serum samples were serially diluted 1:3 starting with a 1:100 dilution, while for HPV-33, serial 1:2 dilutions starting with a 1:50 dilution were employed. Each dot represents one mouse serum sample, with horizontal bars indicating the mean titers. Animals were immunized with 2 μg antigen adjuvanted with 50% (vol/vol) Montanide ISA 720, a total of four times at biweekly intervals. Final serum samples were collected 8 weeks after the fourth immunization.