Fig. 3.

LNP-formulated mRNA vaccine induces humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. BALB/c mice (n = 10/group) were vaccinated i.m. at days 0 and 21 with non-formulated RABV-G mRNA (mRNA), LNP-formulated RABV-G mRNA (mRNA/LNP) or with buffer. Rabies VNTs were analyzed in the sera 3 weeks after prime (a) and 2 weeks after boost vaccination (b). Splenocytes were stimulated 2 weeks after boost vaccination with an overlapping peptide library covering the RABV-G protein. Frequencies of antigen-specific, multifunctional (IFN-γ⁺/TNF⁺) CD8⁺ (c) and CD4⁺ (d) T cells were detected by intracellular cytokine staining. Values from individual mice (dots) and the median (solid lines) are reported for each group. The dashed line indicates the conventionally defined protective titers of 0.5 IU/ml for rabies VNTs. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney test. ****p < 0.0001