Fig 2. Transcriptomic assessment at lymph nodes and oral mucosa.

(A-B) Submandibular lymph nodes extracted pre-immunization at week -2 and post-immunization at week 1 were used to assess the transcriptomic profile by Nanostring transcriptomics. Differential gene expression was determined by comparing week -2 transcript levels to week 1 levels in each macaque. (A-B) Using the advanced analysis package in Nanostring NSolver software, pathway scores were generated by comparing differential genes expression for genes known to function in specific pathways for each macaque within an immunization group, iEp immunization group (A) or NF immunization group (B). The top three pathways showing a positive signature a denoted on the plot. (C) Oral buccal cytobrushes were collected week 1 following the first immunization in both oral iEp vaccinated macaques and in systemic IM vaccinated macaques. Differentially expressed genes were determined by comparing the gene signature in iEp immunization to IM immunization. Log₂ fold change of genes involved in adaptive immunity in iEp vaccinated macaques. Genes showing statistical significance by are denoted with an asterisk and are denoted on the volcano plot by green boxes.