Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among MSM in Hong Kong from March 2010 to February 2011.

<p>The unknown groups refer to the participants who had not been tested; these participants were excluded from the analysis.</p><p>‡Comparison of distribution between HIV-1 positive versus HIV-1 negative in each subcategory. Chi-square test when all cell frequency>10, otherwise Fisher’s exact test was employed. Bold numbers indicate statistical significance.</p><p>Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among MSM in Hong Kong from March 2010 to February 2011.</p

Phylogenetic neighbor-joining tree for HIV-1 pol sequences obtained from DBSs of MSM in Hong Kong.

<p>The reference sequences for classifying HIV-1 genotypes were included and were originally obtained from the NIH/NIAID–funded HIV Databases. The source of HIV-1 strains is color-coded. The horizontal branch was drawn in accordance with their relative genetic distances as indicated by the bar scale. The vertical lines are purely for clarity of the tree presentation.</p

The antibody level of immunized mice via HI and NT experiments.

<p>*, i.n.: intranasal. i.m.: intramuscular.</p>†<p>dpv: day post primary vaccination.</p>‡<p>the separated values represent different antibody levels were detected. N/A: not available.</p

Sequence variation of HA gene of H5N1 influenza viruses at the indicated antigenic sites.

<p> Notes: The amino acid positions are based on mature H5 sequences. Three live viral strains that are included in this study are in bold.</p><p> Human isolates are in italic. The asterisk indicates a few WHO-recommended vaccine strains.</p><p> Abbreviations: RBS, receptor binding site; Gly, glycosylation site; BHG, bar-headed goose; Jpn-WE, Japanese white-eye.</p

Vaccine protection against lethal challenge of pathogenic A/BhG/QH/1/05 virus.

<p>BALB/c mice were vaccinated twice with MVTT_HA-QH via intranasal, oral and intramuscular routes, respectively. The vaccinated animals were challenged with 100 MLD₅₀ A/BhG/QH/1/05 three weeks after the second immunization. Mice who received PBS were used as controls.</p

The schematic representation of MVTT_-HA-QH and MVTT_-HA-AH construction and the expression of the HA protein in cells infected with MVTT_-HA-QH or MVTT_-HA-AH.

<p>(A) The HA gene was introduced, together with GFP gene or RFP gene, each under a separate promoter, into the genome of MVTT. The restriction enzymes Bam HI and Xho I were used for constructing MVTT_-HA-QH and MVTT_-HA-AH. The insertion region corresponds to the Del III region of MVA. (B) The HA protein was detected on Vero cells infected with MVTT_-HA-QH or MVTT_-HA-AH using mouse anti-HA serum in an immunohistochemical staining assay. No HA protein expression was detected on Vero cells infected with the control virus MVTT_SIV. (C) The full length HA gene was detected in the total DNA extracted from Vero cells infected MVTT_-HA-QH and MVTT_-HA-AH using specific primers for H5N1 Qinghai or Anhui strain. No H5 gene was detected in total DNA extracted from Vero cells infected control virus MVTT_SIV using both primers.</p

Cross-neutralization of the infectivity of HA-pseudotyped viruses by antisera obtained from mice after receiving two injections of MVTT_HA-QH.

<p>The IC₅₀ is defined as the mean reciprocal of the antiserum dilution at which virus entry is 50% inhibited (dashed line). Data were collected from three independent experiments and the mean values are presented.</p

HA-specific Nab and IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺ T-cell responses to MVTT_HA-QH or MVTT_HA-AH vaccinations.

<p>BALB/c mice were vaccinated three times or twice with MVTT_HA-QH (A) or MVTT_HA-AH (B, C), respectively, at three-week intervals via intranasal (I.N.) and intramuscular (I.M.) inoculations, respectively. The antiserum was collected at two weeks after each vaccination for analysis of HA-specific Nabs against H5N1 Qinghai strain (<b>A, C</b>) or Anhui strain (<b>B</b>), respectively. Control animals were given MVTT_S via the same corresponding routes. (<b>D</b>) Splenocytes of immunized mice were obtained after two immunizations and assessed by an ELIspot assay using a specific peptide (HA 9mer) or an irrelevant peptide (HIV Gag 9mer). <i>P</i><0.01, MVTT_HA-QH vs. MVTT_S.</p

Vaccine protection against lethal challenges of homologous A/BhG/QH/1/05 (A) and heterologous A/VN/1194/04 (B) viruses.

<p>BALB/c mice were vaccinated twice with MVTT_HA-QH via intranasal and intramuscular routes, respectively. The vaccinated animals were challenged with 100 MLD₅₀ of either A/BhG/QH/1/05 or A/VN/1194/04 three weeks after the second immunization. Mice who received MVTT_S were included as controls.</p

Antibody titer against homologous and heterologous H5N1 influenza viruses.

<p>*Serum samples were collected and tested two weeks after the second vaccination.</p