Figure 5.

Detection of HTNV antigen with ELISA in the organs of HLA-A2.1/K^b transgenic mice after HTNV challenge. The HLA-A2.1/K^b transgenic mice were divided into four groups (n = 6 each) according to the different immunization, including the mice immunized with the HLA-A*02-restricted HTNV-NP peptide FA9 (aa129–aa137, FVVPILLKA), the HLA-B*35-restricted HTNV-NP peptide VY9 (aa131–aa139, VPILLKALY), the HTNV vaccine or PBS, respectively. Ten days after the final immunization booster, the mice were challenged with the HTNV 76-118 strain and sacrificed 4 days following HTNV challenge. (A) The HTNV antigen (y-axis) was detected in the lungs, liver, cerebrum, spleen, kidneys, and heart (x-axis) of HLA-A2.1/K^b transgenic mice after HTNV infection in the four groups, respectively. Few or no detectable virus was found in lungs, cerebrum, and heart in all four groups of immunized transgenic mice after HTNV challenge detected via ELISA. (B) Comparison of the HTNV antigen levels (y-axis) in the tissue supernatant of the liver, spleen, and kidneys in each immunized group (x-axis). (C) Comparison of the HTNV antigen levels (y-axis) between the HLA-A*02-restricted HTNV-NP peptide FA9immunized mice group and HLA-B*35-restricted HTNV-NP peptide VY9-immunized mice group or PBS-injected mice group (x-axis) in the organs liver, spleen and kidneys, respectively. The results shown are representative of three independent experiments. A P/N ratio >2.1 is considered positive. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for statistical evaluation. ns, not significant.