Figure 5

Low levels of Mtb-specific antigen MPT64 correlates with an elevated proportion of CD3⁺/CD8⁺ T cells and enhanced cytolytic T-cell responses in TB lung lesions from Mtb-infected animals. Correlation analyses were performed to assess the associations between the following: Mtb antigen load (MPT64) and CD3⁺ T cells; CD3⁺ T cells and CD8+ T cells; and CD8⁺ T cells and IL-7, perforin or granulysin in the lung tissue of Mtb-infected animals. Data from animals in the rBCG/rAd35-vaccinated group are encircled in the graphs. In addition, data from two animals in the rBCG/rAd35-vaccinated group that presented polyfunctional T-cell responses in blood (13) are given in red (ID 4278) and blue (ID 0012) symbols. In the correlation graphs, data from individual animals (n = 16) are presented as percent positive area of total cell area, and the correlation between indicated markers were determined using Spearman’s correlation test. A value of r = 1 for the correlation coefficient (r_s) indicates a perfect correlation, whereas r = −1 indicates a perfect negative or inverse correlation.