Figure 8.

The loss of inositol phosphorylceramide synthase (LmxIPCS) is associated with an in vivo pathogenic deficit in Leishmania mexicana. (A) Infected macrophages were counted at 72-h postinvasion. No significant differences were observed among the three cell lines under study. Data expressed as mean ± SD. (B) The size of the lesions caused by parasite infection in mice was measured over an 8-week period. Lesions caused by the parental cell line (LmxT7:Cas9, black circle) increased steadily throughout the weeks. Lesions caused by the IPCS mutant (LmxIPCS–/–, white circle) exhibited slower growth and eventually started to heal. Mice infected with the add-back cell line (LmxIPCS–/–: LmxIPCS, black triangle) did not develop lesions. (C) Parasite load analysis revealed the presence of parasites in the lesion area of all infected mice. Mice infected with the parental cell line (LmxT7:Cas9) exhibited a higher parasite load compared to LmxIPCS–/– and LmxIPCS–/–: LmxIPCS, although comparisons using unpaired t test showed no statistically significantly differences between the parasite lines.