Mycobacterium bovis BCG Surface Antigens Expressed under the Granuloma-Like Conditions as Potential Inducers of the Protective Immunity

Figure 4

Specific and total antibody responses in C57BL/6 mice (n = 9/group) immunized either intranasally or intraperitoneally with the mixture of M. bovis four recombinant surface antigens or with M. smegmatis clones overexpressing these antigens for a total of two times at weeks 0 and 1.5. All experimental groups of mice were intranasally challenged with 107 BCG preexposed to the granuloma-like conditions, and two weeks later, antisera were collected for IgG and lungs for IgA detection by ELISA. The results for specific IgG (a) and IgA (b) are presented as OD450, whereas total IgG (c) and IgA (d) levels are calculated in ng/ml for the individual mice, and the mean values for each group are provided. ; ; .

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