FIG 4.

Boost in avidity in CD8⁺ T cells following VACV vaccination is independent of the inflammatory milieu. The bulk of CD8⁺ T cells from each immunized mouse group was mixed with equivalent amounts of splenocytes from naive mice (A) or mock VACV-infected mice (B). The functional avidity of CD8⁺ T cells was measured in response to decreasing peptide concentration. (C) CD8⁺ and CD8⁻ T cells from DNA vaccine (DNA-prime and DNA-boost) and VACV boost groups were cross-mixed before assessment of functional avidity of the CD8⁺ T cells. (D to F) Mixed mock VACV and DNA vaccines were administered to concurrently induce the inflammatory milieu with a DNA boost. The magnitude (D) and functional avidity (E and F) were measured. These experiments were performed as described in the legend to Fig. 1, and the dominant epitope, Gag49, was employed for stimulation. Data represent three independent experiments with at least three mice per group. Statistical analysis was performed by t test using SPSS16.0 software, and the P values of comparisons between any two groups are labeled.