Based on this verified comparability in replicative fitness, we primed immunocompetent C57BL/6 (haplotype H-2b) mice by local, intraplantar infection [(57), for a discussion of priming route in vaccination, see (55)], and quantitated viral epitope-specific and functional IFNγ-secreting CD8+ T cells present in the spleen (Figure 1A, protocol; Figure 1B, results). Here, IFNG is linked to infection.