Figure 1. MKP-2 deficiency results in increased susceptibility to T. gondii infection.

Mice were infected with 10 Beverley tissue cysts intraperitoneally and mortality monitored (A). For in vivo bioluminescent imaging and parasite quantification, mice were infected with 20,000 type II Prugniaud tachyzoites, expressing firefly luciferase. Mice were imaged as outlined in the methods (B). Parasite burdens were determined by measuring whole body Total Flux (Photons/second) using Living Image 4.0 (C). Each value represents the mean of 5 animals per experimental group ± SEM. On day 30 post-infection brains were imaged ex vivo as outlined in the methods (D). Chronic parasite burden was determined by measuring Total Flux (photons/second) from each brain (E). Each value represents the mean of four animals per experimental group ± SEM. All experiments were carried out on at least two occasions.