Fig. 4

Acute stage pathology increases but parasite tissue sequestration is unchanged in Plasmodium chabaudi parasites lacking SMAC. a Wild-type parasites attained a higher peripheral blood parasitaemia after the peak of infection than mice infected with PcASΔsmac parasites (*p < 0.05) (n = 9). b The proportion of schizonts (SZ) appearing in the peripheral blood increased, for Δsmac mutants compared to wild-type parasites (**p < 0.01), enumerated at the time of schizogony (GMT 13:30, day 7 post-infection). Proportions of rings (R) and trophozoites (T) were similar to control wt parasites (n = 6). c The mutant parasites showed more severe weight loss around the infection peak (day 7, **p < 0.01; d9, * p < 0.05) (n = 9). d Red blood cell loss was similar to that observed in mice infected with wt parasites (n = 9). e Δsmac and wt parasites accumulated at similar levels in the liver, lungs, and gut both pre (day 4), during (day 7) and post (day 9) infection peak (n = 6)