Fig. 3: Detection of differentially expressed salivary gland proteins.

a–d SGs were stained for different proteins and visualized using confocal microscopy (n = 3 independent experiments). Thioester-containing protein 15 (TEP 15, a), transferrin 1 (Transf1, b), prophenoloxidase 6 (PPO6, c), and Anopheles antiplatelet protein (AAPP, d). Additionally, P. berghei circumsporozoite protein (CS) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) were used to visualize infected tissues and SG cell surface, respectively. D: distal lobes, M: medial lobe. Scale bar (a–d) 80 µm. e Melanization in salivary glands. Bright-field imaging (panel 1) displays the whole salivary gland. Panel 2 shows sections of the salivary glands, with the white line indicating the focal plane of the images. Panel 3 shows fluorescence images of panel 2, WGA staining in magenta, marking the surface of the salivary gland; sporozoites, stained with mCherry in red; cell nuclei, stained with Hoechst, are shown in blue (n = 4 independent experiments). f Prevalence of melanization spots in uninfected and iSGs (combined data from n = 4 independent experiments with a total of 70 SGs in the control and 62 in the infected group). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.