2.9. Vaccination procedures
Thirty mice were randomly divided into five groups of six mice each. The groups were the PBS, ORF8, ORF8-CRM, ORF8-PEG and ORF8/AL groups, which were defined according to the samples immunized. Mice were immunized subcutaneously in the groin region with the corresponding samples (200 μL) on days 0, 7, and 14. The samples were all at an ORF8 concentration of 100 μg/mL. A mixture of 200 μg aluminum adjuvant and 20 μg ORF8 was used for each mouse of the ORF8/AL group. The blood samples were collected by retro-orbital bleeding on days 7, 14 and 21. Mice were sacrificed and the spleens were harvested on day 21.