Figure 1. Effect of cholera toxin on BCG immunogenicity and M.tb challenge outcome.
(A) Cytokine gating in spleens and lungs, unstimulated vs. Ag85A peptide pool-stimulated. (B) Balb/c mice received 4×105 CFU BCG i.n. or i.d. followed 10 weeks later by 1×106 PFU MVA85A i.d. At weeks 10, 11 and 14 post-BCG, lungs were examined for cytokine production by ICS following Ag85A peptide pool stimulation in the presence of Brefeldin A and GolgiStop. (C & D) Balb/c mice received 4×105 CFU BCG±2 µg CT i.n. After 10 weeks, lungs and spleen were dissected and stimulated with PPD in the presence of Brefeldin A and GolgiStop. Percentages of CD4+ T cells producing IFN-γ and IL-17 were calculated following ICS on lung cells (C) and splenocytes (D). Mice receiving BCG only are plotted with closed circles and those receiving CT have open circles. P values were calculated using a Mann Whitney test (n = 5). (E) Ten weeks post-BCG, mice received ∼100 CFU M.tb via aerosol and four weeks later lungs and spleen were homogenised and plated out for CFU quantitation. Statistical analysis was performed using a one way ANOVA and post-hoc tests on the vaccinated groups (n = 8).