P25 T cells expand and produce protective cytokines throughout <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i> infection.

<p><b>A</b>) IFNγ quantification in the serum from non-infected (Ninf) and from 4 wpi WT and P25 mice. <b>B</b>) Enumeration of splenic CD4⁺ T cells. <b>C</b>) Percentage of naive (CD62L⁺CD44^lo/int; left), activated (CD62L^-CD44^int/hi; middle) and central memory (CD62L⁺CD44^int/hi; right) cells among splenic CD4⁺ T cells. <b>D</b>) IFNγ quantification in splenocytes’ supernatant upon <i>ex vivo</i> stimulation with <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i> Ag85B_240-254 peptide. <b>E</b>) Percentage of spleen IFNγ (left), IL2 (middle) and TNF⁺ cells among splenic CD4⁺ T cells upon stimulation with <i>M</i>. <i>avium</i> Ag85B_240-254 peptide. <b>F</b>) Mean fluorescence intensity of IFNγ (left), IL2 (middle) or TNF (left). *<i>p</i> < 0.05, **<i>p</i> < 0.005 and ***<i>p</i> < 0.001 by two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests (A to E) or by Student <i>t-</i>test (F). One out of two independent experiments is depicted.