Fig. 7: Gβ4 deficiency boosts phagocytic responses during in vivo fungal infection.

A-H, WT and Gnb4^−/− mice infected with FLARE A. fumigatus were assessed for in vivo phagocytosis and fungal infection after 18 h or 24 h. A, FLARE conidia express dsRed and are labeled with AF633. Phagocytes become dsRed⁺AF633⁺ upon conidial uptake, and then transition to dsRed⁻AF633⁺ as internalized conidia are destroyed. B, Neutrophil infiltration into the lung, 18 h post-infection. C, Quantification of A. fumigatus phagocytosis by lung neutrophils at the 18 h time point. D, Fungal CFU in lung extracts at the 18 h time point. Data in B-D represent mean ± s.d. n = 6 biological replicates. Unpaired t test **** p< 0.0001. E, Representative flow cytometry plots showing neutrophils (CD45⁺, CD11b⁺, and Ly6G⁺) containing FLARE A. fumigatus in the lungs, dLN, and spleen 24 h post-infection (magenta gates). Gates for neutrophils with live (orange) and dead (blue) conidia are shown. F, Quantification of neutrophils bearing engulfed FLARE A. fumigatus in the dLN, 24 h post-infection. G, Quantification of neutrophils bearing engulfed FLARE A. fumigatus in the spleen, 24 h post-infection. H, Quantification of the neutrophils in the dLN containing live A. fumigatus, 24 h post-infection. Data in F-H represent mean ± s.d. n = 6 biological replicates. Unpaired t test **** p< 0.0001. I-K, Gnb4^−/− and WT mice were challenged with CEA10 A. fumigatus. I, Schematic diagram of the experimental approach. J-K, Weight (J) and survival (K) of infected mice was monitored over the course of 7 days. Data represent mean ± s.d. n = 15 biological replicates. Statistical analysis in J performed by unpaired t test, with **** p< 0.0001. Statistical analysis in K performed by Logrank test.