Figure 2: Iron deprivation triggers differentiation into amastigote-like forms.

Promastigotes from log-phase cultures were resuspended in regular medium, iron depleted medium, or iron-depleted medium supplemented with 8μM Fe-NTA at 1×10⁶ cells/mL initial concentration. (A) Numbers of viable cells (stained with FDA) were counted over six days. (B) Representative images showing morphology (DIC) and viability (FDA) of parasites in regular or iron-depleted media on the fifth day of culture. Bar = 14 μM. (C) Graphical representation showing percentage of flagellated and non-flagellated parasite forms in L. infantum cultures under regular, iron depleted and iron replete conditions over time. The data represent the mean +/− standard error of three independent experiments. Viable amastigote-like parasites are indicated by arrows.