Fig. 4
Assessment of the IFN-γ (a), TNF (b), IL-10 (c) production and IFN-γ/IL-10 (d), and TNF/IL-10 (e) ratios in vaccine (1–5) and control (6–10) groups. For immunized mice receiving rPfCelTOS with different adjuvants alone or in combination, the mean of IFN-γ (a) responses of ConA (as the positive control) and no antigen (as the negative control) were in the range of 1716–2228 and 18–27 pg/mL, respectively. The highest and significant level of IFN-γ (1959 pg/mL) was produced by the vaccine group 4 that was immunized with rPfCelTOS in combination with CpG + Poly I:C adjuvants (P < 0.0001, Tukey’s HSD post hoc test). Among different vaccine groups, TNF (b) response of ConA (as the positive control) and no antigens (as the negative control) were in the range of 981–1123 and 17–30 pg/mL, respectively. A significant difference was also observed in the level of TNF between mouse group 4 (718 pg/mL) that received rPfCelTOS/CpG + Poly I:C and mouse groups 1, 3, and 5 (rPfCelTOS, rPfCelTOS/Poly I:C and rPfCelTOS/CFA/IFA, respectively, P < 0.05, Tukey’s HSD post hoc test). Among different examined groups, IL-10 (c) responses of ConA (as the positive control) and no antigen (as the negative control) were in the range of 135–478 and 12–17 pg/mL, respectively. Analysis of IFN-γ/IL-10 (d) and TNF/IL-10 (e) ratios in the vaccine group 4 receiving rPfCelTOS/CpG + Poly I:C showed the highest ratio; however, group 5 (rPfCelTOS/CFA) presented the lowest ratios. The bars show the mean concentration of elicited IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-10 from pooled lymphocytes of immunized mice (n = 4) in each group. Data was analysed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s HSD post hoc test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001, ***P < 0.0001. Ag rPfCelTOS antigen