Figure 3.

Gut Colonization by E. coli Expressing α-Gal Protects against Plasmodium Infection

(A and B) Detection of α-gal in E. coli strains by (A) flow cytometry and (B) immunofluorescence. Representative of 2–3 independent experiments. Composite images in (B), i.e., α-gal (green) and DNA (blue) at 100× magnification. Scale bar, 10 μm.

(C and D) α1,3Gt^−/− mice maintained under SPF were treated with streptomycin for 7 days. (C) Anti-α-gal IgM Abs levels were measured in α1,3Gt^−/− mice not colonized (SPF), colonized with E. coli K12, or colonized with O86.B7 strains (2–3 experiments; n = 12). (D) Incidence of blood stage of Plasmodium infection (%) in mice colonized as in (C) and exposed to PbA^EEF1a-GFP-infected A. stephensi mosquitoes (four experiments; n = 17–34).

(E) Incidence of blood stage of Plasmodium infection (%) in α1,3Gt^−/−J_HT^−/−, α1,3Gt^−/−Aid^−/−, and α1,3Gt^−/−μS^−/− mice colonized as in (C) and exposed to PbA^Hsp70-GFP-infected A. stephensi mosquitoes (1–2 experiments; n = 4–10).

(F) Anti-α-gal IgM Abs were measured in GF α1,3Gt^−/− mice not colonized (GF), colonized with E. coli K12, or colonized with O86.B7 strains (2–3 experiments; n = 12). (G) Incidence of blood stage of Plasmodium infection (%) in mice colonized as in (F) and exposed to PbA^EEF1a-GFP-infected A. stephensi mosquitoes (four experiments; n = 9–13).

Mean (red bars).

See also Figure S2.