Intragastrically or sublingually immunized IFN-γ^-/- and wild-type mice have higher Inflammation and atrophy scores.

<p>Groups of IFN-γ^<b>-/-</b> and wild-type (WT) were immunized via the SL or IG route with <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> lysate antigens and CT (SL or IG) and infected with live <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> bacteria. Unimmunized (Naïve) mice infected at the same time point served as infected controls (Inf). At 2 weeks post-infection the mice were sacrificed. Stomach tissue was sampled to determine the score the inflammation. <b>A.</b> Atrophy and <b>B.</b> Infiltration scores of formalin fixed stomach tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Data represent pool of two independent experiments of three with similar results, bars represent mean values of n = 6–11 mice/group. Gastritis scores from immunized mice were compared to their respective infected controls and was assessed with the unpaired two-tailed t-test with Welch’s correction and denoted by * (p<0.05), ** (p<0.01), *** (p<0.001). <b>C.</b> Microscopy images (100x) of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections of a representative corpus area of stomach from unimmunized infected (Inf), SL and IG immunized IFNγ^<b>-/-</b> mice (top row) and wild-type mice (bottom row).