Fig. 1.

miR-942-5p is involved in cell apoptosis and parasite eradication during the early period following C. parvum infection. A The effect of miR-942-5p on cell apoptosis in HCT-8 cells. Cellular apoptosis was suppressed after transfection with miR-942-5p mimics, whereas apoptosis was enhanced after transfection with an miR-942-5p inhibitor. B and C The effect of miR-942-5p on the number of parasites in HCT-8 cells. The burden of C. parvum infection was significantly increased after transfection with an miR-942-5p mimic, whereas it was suppressed after in vitro transfection with an miR-942-5p inhibitor 24 h after initial parasite exposure. Cryptosporidium parvum parasites were stained in green, and the cell nuclei were stained blue. Bar = 20 µm. All data represent the combined mean ± SD of three independent experiments, with two to three technical replicates per experiment, and were analyzed with a t-test compared to cells transfected with a non-specific control. ^*P < 0.05; ^**P ≤ 0.01; ^***P ≤ 0.001; ^****P ≤ 0.0001