Fig. 7

tgPfHRP2 protein kinetics following infection in splenectomized mice. Female BALB/c mice (n = 5) were splenectomized and infected with the PbPfHRP2 parasite. Artesunate and pyronaridine were administered for cure. a, b Parasite genomic DNA clearance post-treatment was quantified in the splenectomized mice using qPCR, with TaqMan primers and probes specific for P. berghei ANKA 18S rRNA, and compared to parasite clearance time in mice with intact spleens (n = 7). Data were normalized by calculating percent of total parasite DNA remaining (a). Overall clearance time for parasite DNA was compared in splenic and asplenic mice using a log-rank test (***p < 0.001; **p < 0.01, *p < 0.01) (b). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. c Tail blood was extracted daily from splenectomized mice to quantify the concentration of tgPfHRP2 post-treatment in the plasma and RBCs by ELISA. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. tgPfHRP2 levels post-treatment in the RBCs of both the splenic and asplenic mice were compared. Data were normalized by calculating percent of total tgPfHRP2 remaining (d). Overall clearance time for RBC tgPfHRP2 was compared in splenic and asplenic mice using a log-rank test (***p < 0.001; **p < 0.01, *p < 0.01) (e). Data are represented as mean ± SEM