Fig. 4: Effect of hemocyte depletion on P. falciparum infection and midgut epithelium integrity in antibiotic-treated mosquitoes.

a Smurf assay of NT, LPSM-injected, and CLD-injected mosquitoes maintained on sugar containing antibiotics. The rates of smurf phenotype and mortality were evaluated at 48 h post-blood feeding. Each experiment had three experimental replicates. Data are presented as percentages in bar graph. (n = NT, 84; LPSMs, 89; CLDs, 77). Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher´s exact test. ****p < 0.0001, ns not significant. b Mosquitoes maintained on sugar containing antibiotics (NT, LPSM-injected, and CLD-injected mosquitoes) were fed on blood containing high P. falciparum gametocytemia. The intensity and prevalence of infection and the mortality rate were evaluated at 7 dpi. Data were obtained from three experiments, pooled together to generate the graph. Plasmodium infection data are presented as medians with interquartile range; each dot indicates the number of oocysts per midgut. Mortality rates and prevalences are expressed as percentages in bar and circular diagrams, respectively. Statistical analysis of intensity of infection was done using the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn´s post-test. **p < .005; ns not significant. Statistical analysis of mortality rate and prevalence were performed using Fisher´s exact test. ****p < .0001; ns not significant. Source data and detailed statistical analysis are provided in the Source Data file. Schematic illustrations of the experimental strategy in the Fig. (4a, b) were created by Victor Cardoso-Jaime, using Microsoft PowerPoint Version 16.92.