Fig. 5: T cell response to Ca-DelMut immunization in Ad5-hACE2 transduced mice.

A Timeline of Ad5-hACE2 transduction and immunization of Ad5-hACE2 transduced mice with Ca-DelMut. B Ca-DelMut induces IFN-γ positive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses in Ad5-hACE2 transduced mice. Four weeks after immunization, splenocytes and lung cells were obtained and stimulated with either spike or NP peptide pools or incubated without peptides overnight in the presence of BFA. Surface markers were stained, and cells fixed and permeabilized. Intracellular cytokines were then stained with antibodies. Sample data were acquired using a BD FACSAria III cell sorter. IFN-γ⁺ CD4⁺ and CD8T cells in immunized (n = 5) and naive groups (n = 4) were compared. Statistical comparisons between means were performed by Student’s t-test (2-tailed): ^****p < 0.0001, ^***p < 0.001, ^**p < 0.01, NS: not significant. C Frequency of polyfunctional IFN-γ/TNF-α double positive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells in Ca-DelMut virus immunized (n = 5) and naive mice (n = 4). Statistical comparisons between means were performed by Student’s t-test (2-tailed): ^****p < 0.0001, ^***p < 0.001, ^**p < 0.01, NS: not significant.