Figure 1

FV-induced splenomegaly in adenoviral vector immunized mice. CB6F1 mice were immunized with Ad5 and Ad5F35 based vectors encoding F-MuLV Env and Gag with or without co-administration of a specific vectored type I IFN subtype, as indicated. Ad5-based vectors were used for the prime immunization and Ad5F35 vectors for the boost immunization. Mice of the group "env+gag" received an equal amount of luciferase encoding adenoviral vectors instead of IFN encoding vectors to ensure that the total amount of particles used for immunization was the same in all groups. Three weeks after the boost immunization mice were challenged with FV. Disease progression was monitored by palpation of the spleen twice a week. The categorized spleens of six mice per group on day 14 p.c. (A) and day 17 p.c. (B) are shown (means + standard error of the means). On day 21 p.c. spleens were removed and weighed (C). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) compared to unvaccinated control mice (*) or mice vaccinated with Env- plus Gag-encoding vectors (#) are indicated. Data are representative of two independent experiments. (D) CB6F1 mice were immunized twice with Ad5 and Ad5F35 based vectors encoding the indicated type I interferons alone and infected with FV three weeks after the second application of IFN vectors. The disease progression was monitored by twice-weekly palpations of the spleen, the graph shows the categorized spleen sizes (mean + standard error of the means) at the indicated time points after FV infection.