The hierarchical pattern of antibody responses induced by E 8 Pam 2 Cys and Alhydrogel was also confirmed by the numbers of specific antibody secreting cells that were detected in the spleens of vaccinated mice. Once again significantly higher numbers of cells secreting both HCV VLP ( Figure 4A ) or E2-specific antibodies ( Figure 4B ) were detected in animals that received HCV VLPs mixed with E 8 Pam 2 Cys than those that were inoculated with HCV VLPs alone or VLPs formulated with Alhydrogel.