Fig. 8: PCV2-ORF2-specific T-cell cytokine response in PBMCs after the PCV2d challenge.

The IFNγ-ELISPOT and intracellular cytokine staining assays were used to evaluate PCV2-ORF2-specific T-cell cytokine response in PBMCs after the PCV2d challenge. a Dynamic changes of the PCV2-ORF2-specific IFNγ-SC in PBMCs among all groups post-challenge. b Representative images of ELISPOT wells from each group at 7, 14 dpc. Comparison of single-, double-, or triple-positive cytokine responses in CD4 T cells (c) and CD8 T cells (d) at 14 dpc among groups. All data were background subtracted. The dotted black line indicates the limit of detection (LOD). Responders (top row) depict the number of pigs with positive responses. In (a), the thick color-coded lines show the group mean at each time point post-challenge and gray symbols represent individual animals with gray lines connecting identical animals. In (c, d), data are expressed as means ± SD with one symbol indicating one pig. Asterisks in (c, d) represent significant differences (*P < 0.05) between indicated groups, while “Intergroup Comparison” (bold: P < 0.01, bold and underlined: P < 0.05) on the top panel of (a) indicate the intergroup difference at different time points and are color-coded as follows: Mock (tangerine), PCV2d (red), G1 (green), G2 (mustard), G3 (blue), and G4 (purple). The statistical significance of data was analyzed using unpaired two-tailed t-tests with Welch’s correction when indicated.