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Fig. 4 | BMC Biology

Fig. 4

From: A brain cyst load-associated antigen is a Toxoplasma gondii biomarker for serodetection of persistent parasites and chronic infection

Fig. 4

BCLA deficiency does not significantly impact the infectious potential. a NMRI (n = 23) or Balb/c (n = 10) mice were given 106 and 104 tachyzoites, respectively, of the 76K-GFP-luc WT and Δbcla strains intraperitoneally and their survival was monitored. At day 5 post-inoculation, all the mice displayed clinical signs (weight loss and ruffled fur). Significance was tested using log-rank Mantel–Cox (NMRI: P = 0.9546; Balb/c: P = 0.3173) and Gehan–Breslow–Wilcoxon (NMRI: P = 0.9283; Balb/c: P = 0.3173) tests. b All the NMRI mice that survived the i.p. inoculation with Δbcla and the WT strain showed sero-conversion when serologically tested by Western blot (IgG, LD bio Diagnostic), 10 weeks post-infection. c Histological analysis of C57BL/6 mouse ilea 8 days post-cyst ingestion. The ilea of non-infected mice (n = 4) are characterized by a well-defined epithelial architecture and villous morphology. Mice infected with either WT (n = 4) or bcla-deficient (n = 4) cysts are typified by a severe necrosis of the villi and mucosa compared to the non-infected mice. Bar, 100 μm. These experiments were repeated twice with similar results. d Histopathological scores in the ilea of mice (n = 4) infected with WT cysts were significantly lower compared with bcla-deficient-infected mice (n = 4). The horizontal line indicates the border between mild inflammation (< 3) and necrosis (> 3). Data are given as means ± SD, and P values were determined by the Mann-Whitney test. e Parasites lacking bcla exhibit no growth defect in vitro as determined by fluorescence imaging assays in HFFs. Vacuoles and parasites were counted to determine both the invasion and the proliferation indexes. Data are mean value ± s.d. of triplicates from two independent experiments. P values were calculated using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. n.s, not significant. f Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of IFNγ and CCL2 mRNA in ilea of C56BL/6 mice orally infected 8 days earlier. The results are represented as mean ± standard deviations from at least two independent experiments. P values were calculated using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. n.s, not significant. g Cysts harvested from the brains of NMRI mice orally infected 8–10 weeks earlier were enumerated using microscopy. The results are represented as mean ± standard deviations from at least two independent experiments. P values were calculated using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. n.s, not significant

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