α-Gal immunization positively impacts Trypanosoma cruzi colonization of heart tissue in a mouse model
Fig 4
TLR activity, cytokine production and histopathology.
(A) Nitric oxide production from stimulated peritoneal macrophages from unvaccinated mice of the indicated strains. Treatment groups refer to 1 μg/mL concentrations of the indicated agent; “medium” = buffer. (B and C) IL-12 and IFN-γ production by heart homogenate from vaccinated or unvaccinated αGalT-KO mice infected with Y strain. (D and E) IL-12 and IFN-γ production by heart homogenate from vaccinated or unvaccinated αGalT-KO mice infected with Colombian strain. (F and G) Average number of T. cruzi amastigote nests found in heart tissue by counting in 100 fields per slide of heart section. (H) Representative histopathological sections from the indicated mice; for example, the top-left panel shows heart tissue from an unvaccinated animal 8 days after infection with T. cruzi Y strain. Arrows point to amastigote colonies. All experiments were performed independently in triplicate.