Summary of seven distinct Th1 epitopes identified by ELISPOT and MTT assay.

aStimulation index (SI) was calculated using the number of SFC in peptide-stimulated cells divided by the number of SFC in media-stimulated cells, and a SI >2 was considered to be positive. b2×105 CD4+T cells were isolated from 5 mice immunized with 20 µg recombinant protein on day 10 post immunization. Each peptide was added at a concentration of 2 µg/ml for 20 h. The data presented are the mean of three independent experiments. c2×105 CD4+ T cells were isolated from 5 mice immunized with 20 µg C. burnetii WCA on day 10 post-immunization. Each peptide was added at a concentration of 2 µg/ml for 20 h. The data presented are the mean of three independent experiments. d4×105 CD4+T cells were isolated from 5 mice immunized with 20 µg C. burnetii WCA on day 10 post immunization. Each peptide was added at a concentration of 10 µg/ml for 48 h. The proliferation levels of CD4+ T cells are the mean of three independent experiments.