Fig. 4: Transcriptional activity in uSGs (U) and P. berghei-iSGs (Pb).
a Relative mRNA expression of selected classical saliva genes by qRT-PCR analyses in uSGs and iSGs 20 days post-infection. Antigen 5-related protein 1 (A5R1), apyrase (Apy), Anopheles antiplatelet protein (AAPP), 5’nucleotidase ecto (NT5E), D7-related protein 3 (D7R3). Relative expression levels were calculated using the delta-delta Ct (ΔΔCt) method, with ribosomal protein S7 used as the reference gene for normalization. b Selected proteins showing differential expression between uSGs and iSGs. Transferrin 1 (Transf), lipophorin (LP), clip domain serine protease related protein A 14 (CLIPA14), and prophenoloxidase 6 (PPO6). a, b Bars: Mean fold change in gene expression relative to uninfected controls ± SD. Dots: Individual biological replicates. Differences in relative expression between the conditions were determined using an unpaired, two-sided Mann–Whitney U test (Wilcoxon rank-sum). Significance levels are indicated as: PD7R3 = 0.0037, PAAPP < 0.0001, PPPO6 = 0.0106, PCLIPA14 = 0.0111. Data derived from three independent experiments with at least two biological replicates. Each dot represents a poll of 15 pairs of salivary glands. c–g RNA in situ hybridization in uSGs (c) and (d) iSGs (n = 2 independent experiments). Nuclei in blue, PPO6 in yellow, apyrase in green and lipophorin in red. (LL) lateral lobe and (CL) central lobe. Arrow indicates fat body cells associated with SGs. e Close-up of an iSG. Nuclei in blue, PPO6 in yellow, apyrase in green and lipophorin in red. Dashed insert identifies a PPO6-positive hemocyte in the surface of an iSGs. f Close-up of a PPO6-positive hemocyte from panel e. g Lateral view of panel f. Arrow indicates hemocyte in the surface of the lobe. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
