Fig. 1. DC-specific deletion of OTUD7b induce DC death and confers protection against Plasmodium berghei ANK (PbA)-induced experimental cerebral malaria.

A-I Otud7b^fl/fl and CD11c-cre Otud7b^fl/fl mice were infected i.p. with 1×10⁶ PbA-infected red blood cells (iRBCs). A Mice were monitored once per day for neurological signs according to RMCBS scale until day 7 p.i. A RMCBS score of 20 represents completely healthy mice. Data represent one of two independent experiments, (n = 10, *p < 0.05) (Mann–Whitney U test). B Representative image of Evans blue assay performed at day 7 p.i. Mice were injected i.v. with Evans blue dye and perfused with 0.9% saline 1 h post infection. Brains were isolated and photographed. Two independent experiments with 3 mice per experimental group and experiment were performed. (C) Peripheral blood parasitemia was measured daily during the course of infection by microscopy of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears (n = 5 per group, two independent experiments). D Absolute cell numbers of CD11c⁺ DCs in spleen, analyzed at days 0, 2 and 7 p.i. by flow cytometry (n = 5 per group). E Absolute cell numbers of CD11c⁺ CD8α⁺, CD11c⁺ CD11b⁺ and CD11c⁺ PDCA1⁺, respectively, DC subtypes at days 0, 2 and 7 p.i. (n = 5 per group). Flow cytometric analysis of DC death was performed using annexin V and 7AAD staining of splenic CD11c⁺ DCs at day 0 (uninfected), 2 and 7 p.i. F Representative flow cytometry dot plots of AnnexinV/7AAD stained CD11c⁺ DCs from spleen of Otud7b^fl/fl and CD11c-Cre Otud7b^fl/fl mice. Representative dot plots are shown (n = 5 per group). G Absolute number of AnnexinV/7AAD double positive CD11c⁺ dendritic cells from spleen of Otud7b^fl/fl and CD11c-Cre Otud7b^fl/fl mice (n = 5 per group). All bars represent mean values + SEM. Student’s t-test *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.