Fig. 1

Dynamics of Ag85A-specific T-cell immune response in BCG infected mice. (A) Detection of IFN-γ production following BCG infection. C57BL/6 mice (n = 5) i.v infected with 1 × 10⁸ CFU BCG were euthanized by cervical dislocation under isoflurane anaesthesia at 0, 3, 6 and 9 days and the spleens and inguinal LNs were removed. IFN-γ levels in the culture supernatants of splenocytes and inguinal LN cells stimulated with Ag85A peptide, Ag85A protein and Bovine PPD were detected with ELISA. (B) Detection of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell ratio. Ratio of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in spleen (i.v) and inguinal LN (s.c) were analysed using FACS stimulated with Ag85A protein. (C) Expression profile of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines. Different cytokines in the culture supernatants of splenocytes (i.v) and inguinal LN cells (s.c) stimulated with Ag85A peptide, Ag85A protein and Bovine PPD were detected using FACS. The results are representative of three independent experiments and presented as means ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined using Student’s t-test (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01)