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Fig. 2 | Parasites & Vectors

Fig. 2

From: Impact of Trypanosoma cruzi on antimicrobial peptide gene expression and activity in the fat body and midgut of Rhodnius prolixus

Fig. 2

Antibacterial activities in haemolymph samples of Rhodnius prolixus infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. R. prolixus 5th instar nymphs were fed inactivated blood containing the T. cruzi Dm 28c clone or Y strain at a final concentration of 1 × 107 epimastigotes/mL. The antibacterial activities were assayed with haemolymph collected five days after infection and tested against (a) E. coli or (b) S. aureus. Haemolymph samples were prepared from: black columns-control, uninfected insects; grid columns-infected with T. cruzi Dm 28c; striped columns-infected with T. cruzi Y strain. Antibacterial activity was measured through optical densities using the turbidimetric assay (OD550 nm) after 19 h of incubation of haemolymph samples with bacteria. Bars represent the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments with nine pools of insects (n = 9). Means were compared using one-way ANOVA and Student’s T-test; *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01

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