Figure 3. Resultant phenotypic traits of conditional disruption of TgVps35 gene.

(a) Host cell invasion was assayed in iKoTgVps35 and complemented mutants (Comp-iKoTgVsp35) in the presence and absence of ATc. Bars indicate mean±s.d. (n=3, P<0.001 by Student's test). (b) Host cell lytic plaques were examined in TgVsp35-deficient mutants, Comp-iKoTgVsp35 and parental RH TaTi parasites in the presence or absence of ATc. (c) Survival of mice infected with lethal doses of TgVsp35-deficient mutants, Comp-iKoTgVsp35 and parental RH TaTi parasites in the presence and absence of ATc in the drinking water. The ATc was removed after 12 days and mice survival was monitored for 30 days post-infection. (d) Avirulent TgVps35-depleted parasites do not confer protective immunity to reinfection with lethal doses of RH wild-type parasites. ATc treatment and mice survival were monitored as above, except that sub-lethal doses of parasites were used during the primo-infection.