Fusion to Flaviviral Leader Peptide Targets HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase for Secretion and Reduces Its Enzymatic Activity and Ability to Induce Oxidative Stress but Has No Major Effects on Its Immunogenic Performance in DNA-Immunized Mice

Figure 7

Cellular immune response of mice immunized with pVaxRT1.14opt-in and pVaxRT1.14oil. IFN-γ, IL-2, and dual (IFN-γ/IL-2) secretion by splenocytes in response to stimulation with RT1.14 protein (a) or RT1.14-derived peptide aa528-543 (b) measured by Fluorospot. Responses represent the average number of signal-forming units (sfu) per mln cells in two independent experiment runs, each done in duplicate, +SD, , (Mann–Whitney test). Secretion of perforin (c) and granzyme B (d) by splenocytes of mice immunized with pVaxRT1.14opt-in and pVaxRT1.14oil in response to stimulation with RT1.14 protein and RT1.14-derived peptides. Splenocytes were stimulated with the recombinant RT 1.14 protein and RT peptides for 3 days. After that, cell culture fluids were collected and subjected to the analysis for granzyme B and perforin by sandwich ELISA. Data represent an average value of two repeated measurements for each mouse, in pg/ml. Correlation of the parameters of cellular immune response (e).

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