FIG 3.

Priming with SVF9 peptide elevates protective CTL responses in the small intestine and spleen. (A) Schematic diagram of the methodology. C57BL/6 mice were primed with the SVF9 peptide and challenged with oocysts. Ten days later, the frequencies and quality of SVF9-specific CD8⁺ T cells in the small intestine and spleen were quantified by ICS. (B) Flow cytometry plots of IFN-γ in spleen cells and IELs. Shown are representative dot plots of CD8⁺ T-cell IFN-γ production following SVF9 peptide restimulation (10 μg/mL) in vitro. Values indicate the percentages of CD8⁺ cells within each gate, and data were gated on live CD3⁺ T cells. (C) Analysis of IFN-γ secretion based on the data in panel B. Bars represent the mean values of the percentages of SVF9-specific CD8⁺ cells. Individual data are also shown. Differences between oocyst infection and SVF9-vaccinated immunizations are indicated. Data are means ± SD, and significance was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnett’s multiple-comparison test (***, P < 0.001).