Immunization with L. sigmodontis Microfilariae Reduces Peripheral Microfilaraemia after Challenge Infection by Inhibition of Filarial Embryogenesis
Figure 2
Mice immunized with Mf in alum have reduced numbers of Mf.
Mice were immunized three times s.c. with 100,000 Mf in alum. Control mice received alum alone. L. sigmodontis infection was performed one week after the last immunization. Microfilaraemia was monitored twice a week throughout patency. (A) Kinetics of Mf load of sham-treated (dashed line) and immunized (black line) mice in the peripheral blood. One representative of three independent experiments with ten mice per group is shown (2-way ANOVA, mean ± SEM), including both Mf− and Mf+ mice. For additional experiments see figure S3A, B. (B) Percentage of Mf+ mice of three independent experiments was analyzed using Student's t-test. Each mouse with peripheral Mf at any given time point was defined as Mf+. (C, D) Mf burden in the pleural space days 70 (C) and 90 (D) p.i.. Graphs show one representative of three (C) and two (D) independent experiments (at least seven mice each group, see also Figure S3C–E) and were analyzed with Welch-corrected t-test. Numbers below the symbols indicate the number of Mf+ mice (median, * P<0.05, ** P<0.005).