FIG. 4.
Immunization with SA85-1.1 protein before T. cruzi infection decreases parasitemia and increases SA85-1.1 antibody titers but does not exacerbate tissue inflammation. Groups of mice were immunized with SA85-1.1 or OVA. Fourteen days after the immunization, mice were inoculated with 1 × 105 trypomastigotes. (A) Parasitemia was monitored (data are means and standard errors of the means for five mice per group). (B) Sera were collected 4 days before the infection and on days 28 and 74 of the infection, and anti-SA85-1.1 IgG, IgG2a, and IgG1 end-point titers were determined. Results are expressed as means and SE for at least four mice per group. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. (C) On the indicated days of infection, skeletal muscles were obtained and H&E stained, and inflammatory scores were derived. Results are expressed as means and SE for four muscles per group.