FIG 2.

Different epitope variants show distinct priming capacities. Naive CD8⁺ T cells were primed with different epitope variants, as indicated, for 28 days. All experiments were started in duplicate with cells from 11 different donors. Results from the same donor are presented with the same symbol, as indicated in the key. (A) Cultures from donors D5 to D11 were analyzed by peptide-specific MHC class I multimers. (B) Cultures from donors D1 to D11 were analyzed by intracellular cytokine staining for IFN-γ. (C) Success rate of CD8⁺ T cell priming, defined as a minimum of 0.5% IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺ T cells upon peptide restimulation. (D) Polyfunctionality (secretion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and MIP1β and degranulation) of CD8⁺ T cells from one donor primed with the gt1a_1 and gt1b_3 variants as determined by Boolean gating (FlowJo software). Pie charts were generated by using Pestle and SPICE software.