Heat map of NS3-peptide-specific T-cell responses in four immunized chimpanzees at different study time points.

<p>(A) Percentage of expanded CD4 T-cells producing IFNγ upon restimulation with individual peptides, subdivided into three categories; i.e. low response (light green; 0.001%–0.1% specific IFNγ production), intermediate (green; 0.1–1% specific response), high (dark green;>1% specific response). (B) Percentage of expanded CD8 T-cells showing IL-2/IFNγ double cytokine production upon restimulation with individual peptide, subdivided into three categories; i.e. low response (light blue; 0.01%–0.1% specific IFNγproduction), intermediate (blue; 0.1–1% specific response), high (dark blue; > 1% specific response). White areas indicate where no responses were detected. The red boxes highlight areas within NS3 that are broadly recognized. Per animal 6 time points of analysis are shown lined up beneath each other; -12) Two weeks following the 1st MVA boost, cells stimulated with NS3_vaccine, -4) Four weeks following 2^nd MVA boost, cells stimulated with NS3_vaccine, 0) Day of HCV infection, stimulation with NS3_vaccine, 0) Day of HCV infection, stimulation with NS3_challenge, and 4 and 36 weeks after challenge, stimulation with NS3_challenge. The individual peptides tested are indicated at the top of the map by the numbers 1 to 156. The red boxes represent broadly recognized regions within NS3. Total frequency (all peptide responses combined) of (C) IFNγ production by expanded CD4 T-cells and (D) IFNγ/IL2 dual cytokine production by expanded CD8 T-cells per animal. (E) Frequency of p59 specific triple positive IL2/TNFα/IFNγ producing CD8 T-cells. The numbers on the X-axis represent the study week, relative to time of challenge. * Despite several attempts, frozen cells from Vac1 from 4 weeks following HCV infection did not respond to either NS3_vaccine or NS3_challenge peptide stimulation and no expansion could be achieved. @ Due to a high IFNγ background, peptide specific CD8 responses could not be detected