TABLE 1.
Experimental protocol for immunization of BALB/c mice
| Group (no. in group) | Vaccine used | Days of immunizationa
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 14 | 28 | 42 | ||
| I (5) | Fimbriae | s.c. | s.c. | s.c. | s.c. |
| II (18) | pcDNA3/fimA | i.m. | i.m. | i.m. | i.m. |
| III (30) | pcDNA3/fimA | TSG | TSG | TSG | TSG |
| IV (9) | pcDNA3 | TSG | TSG | TSG | TSG |
| V (5) | None | — | — | — | — |
a
Each vaccine (50 μg) was injected biweekly for a total of four inoculations. Blood, saliva, and fecal samples were collected biweekly through day 84. s.c., injection subcutaneously with emulsion of fimbriae and Freund's complete adjuvant; i.m., injection into the quadriceps muscles with pcDNA3/fimA, using a 27-gauge needle. TSG, injection into the SMG with pcDNA3/fimA, using a 27-gauge needle; —, no immunization.