Fig 1.
Induction of priming in fourth instar larva of Aedes aegypti against E. coli, and the measured parameters in adults. For both genders, parameters were recorded in adults both before the challenge and 24 h post-challenge. Survival was quantified after this challenge.
Fig 2.
Survival curves of mosquitoes of the C, UnPr, and Pr groups after the challenge in adults.
(A) Males and (B) females.
Table 1.
Immune response of adult males and females when previously primed at the larval stage, compared to the groups not exposed to E.coli (unprimed) at the larval stage.
A) Response of emerged adult; B) response of adults after infection with E. coli.
Table 2.
Gender-based immune differences among: a) emerged adults, and b) adults at 24 h post-infection.
Fig 3.
Gender differences for the PO activity.
(*) indicates a significant difference between genders within a treatment group (C, UnPr, Pr). (**) indicates a significant difference between the measurements before and after infection of adults (for the C group at 24 h post-challenge, the significant difference was only found for males). Number of samples per group before infection: ♀ = 14, ♂ = 24 for C; ♀ = 24, ♂ = 26 for UnPr; ♀ = 18, ♂ = 26 for Pr. Number of samples per group 24 h after infection: ♀ = 30, ♂ = 26 for C; ♀ = 28, ♂ = 14 for UnPr; ♀ = 19, ♂ = 18 for Pr.
Fig 4.
Gender differences in nitric oxide production (expressed as μM).
(*) indicates a significant difference between genders within treatment groups. Three mosquitoes were used to obtain a single sample. Number of samples per group before infection: ♀ = 14, ♂ = 24 for C; ♀ = 24, ♂ = 26 for UnPr; ♀ = 18, ♂ = 26 for Pr. Number of samples per group 24 h after infection: ♀ = 30, ♂ = 26 for C; ♀ = 28, ♂ = 14 for UnPr; ♀ = 19, ♂ = 18 for Pr.
Fig 5.
Peptide transcription in adults of both sexes, with or without priming induced at the larval stage.
(A) Analysis of transcriptional levels through quantitative RT-PCR before and after infection of adults, measuring cecropin, (B) Analysis of transcriptional levels through quantitative RT-PCR before and after infection of adults, measuring attacin, (C) Analysis of transcriptional levels through quantitative RT-PCR before and after infection of adults, measuring defensin. (*) indicates a significant difference between males and females, and (**) indicates a significant difference between the UnPr and Pr groups.
Fig 6.
Antibacterial activity of adult mosquitoes before and after infection with E. coli.
Higher readings indicate weak antibacterial activity. (*) indicates a significant difference between genders within each treatment group (UnPr, Pr). (**) indicates a significant difference between the UnPr and Pr groups (only for females). (⌘) indicates a significant difference between measurements before and after infection of adults (only for females). Number of samples per group before infection: ♀ = 7, ♂ = 10 for C; ♀ = 16, ♂ = 18 for UnPr; ♀ = 11, ♂ = 3 for Pr. Number of samples per group after infection: ♀ = 10, ♂ = 11 for C; ♀ = 14, ♂ = 14 for UnPr; ♀ = 14, ♂ = 4 for Pr.
Fig 7.
E. coli persistence after infections.
Persistence was defined as the turbidity intensity of culture in LB. (*) indicates a significant difference between genders within each treatment group (C, UnPr, Pr); (**) indicates a significant difference between UnPr and Pr females 24 h after infection of adults. Number of samples per group before infection: ♀ = 10, ♂ = 6 for C; ♀ = 11, ♂ = 10 for UnPr; ♀ = 10, ♂ = 10 for Pr. Number of samples per group after infection: ♀ = 9, ♂ = 7 for C; ♀ = 10, ♂ = 10 for UnPr; ♀ = 10, ♂ = 10 for Pr.