Fig 1. Experimental setup.

MoDCs and MoMϕs were differentiated in vitro from freshly isolated monocytes. Additionally, fresh human skin explants containing primary dermal APCs were lysed to form a single cell suspension. All cell types were stimulated in vitro with recombinant SPZ surface antigen, circumsporozoite protein (recCSP) or whole sporozoites (untreated: SPZ or opsonized: opSPZ). Uptake of recCSP and (op)SPZ was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Subsequently, cells were analyzed for their phenotype and function. Images of skin and sporozoite were reproduced. They were purchased for publication at Turbosquid.com.