Fig. 6: LmexCen^−/− immunization mediates protection against challenge with LmexWT in BALB/c mice.

a Schematic of the vaccination study design for BALB/c mice. b Ear lesion thickness of vaccinated and control mice measured for 10 wpc. c–f Representative vaccinated ear (c), challenged ear of vaccinated mouse (d), PBS-inoculated ear of control mouse (e), and challenged ear of control mouse (f) at 10 wpc. g–j H&E staining of cross-section of representative vaccinated ear (g), challenged ear of vaccinated mouse (h), PBS-inoculated ear of control mouse (i), and challenged ear of control mouse (j) at 10 wpc. Scale bar for g–j: 100,000 μm. k, l Parasitic burdens in the ear (k) and draining lymph nodes (l) at 10 wpc. m–p Cytokine levels of IL-12 (m), IFN-γ (n), IL-10 (o), and IL-4 (p) in the lymph nodes of vaccinated and control mice stimulated with L. mexicana antigen at 10 wpc. q, r Ratio between IFN-γ/IL-10 (q) and IFN-γ/IL-4 (r) levels in the lymph nodes of vaccinated and control mice at 10 wpc. s Ratio of log titers of IgG2a/IgG1 antibodies in the serum of vaccinated and control mice measured for 10 wpc with LmexWT. Data show one representative experiment out of four independent experiments and show mean ± SEM, N = 10 for each group at each time point. Unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test was performed to compare statistical significance at each time point. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. In all panels * represents P ≤ 0.05, ** represents P ≤ 0.01, and *** represents P ≤ 0.001.