FIG 6.

Knockdown of ispdia3 expression does not impact B. burgdorferi transmission by I. scapularis ticks. Borrelia-infected (Bb) nymphs microinjected by body with ds ispdia3 or ds gfp were fed on clean mice to assess transmission of the spirochete. (A) Impact of knockdown of ispdia3 on engorgement weights; each data point represents a replete nymph. (B) B. burgdorferi burden in salivary glands and guts of replete nymphs, with each data point representing a pool of three nymphal salivary glands and guts, and in (C) mouse skin at 7,14 and 21 days, and (D) and in heart and joint tissues at 21 days was determined by qPCR of flaB and normalized to tick or mouse β-actin. Horizontal bars represent the mean ± SD. Data in panels A to D are averages of 3 biological replicates. Statistical significance was assessed using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001).