Figure 4

The mortality caused by IL-10R blockade incurred a universal cost to lifetime transmission potential, but early in infection clones differed in their response to IL-10R blockade. (A) Line graphs compare the dynamics of gametocyte density during IL-10R blockade (filled symbols) or control IgG treatment (open symbols) during single-clone infections with each of eight P. c. chabaudi clones. Insets show day to death for each of the clones in αIL-10R (filled bars) versus IgG (open bars) treated mice. Bar graphs represent the least squares mean of total gametocyte density (days 4–21 p.i. inclusive, an estimate of lifetime transmission potential) (B), or early gametocyte density (days 3–8 p.i. inclusive) (C), broken down by treatment and P. c. chabaudi parasite clone. Each line or bar represents the mean of five mice (± S.E.), except where deaths had occurred. Regardless of P. c. chabaudi parasite genotype, blocking IL-10R reduced the lifetime transmission potential relative to control mice (A and B). However, the extent to which IL-10R blockade directly affected early gametocyte density depended on P. c. chabaudi parasite clone (C).