Within-host Competition Does Not Select for Virulence in Malaria Parasites; Studies with Plasmodium yoelii
Figure 2
Transmission success of strains of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii in single and mixed strain infections.
Panels A, B and C show the numbers of oocysts per mosquito fed on mice infected with CU (avirulent), 17XNL (avirulent), 17X1.1pp (intermediately virulent) and 17XL (virulent) either in single or in mixed infections on days 3 and 4 post-inoculation. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean. Twenty mosquitoes were allowed to feed on each mouse, and those that were gravid after 7 days were considered blood-fed and included in the analysis. Panels D, E and F; the mean percentage of mosquitoes infected with at least one oocyst following feeding on each of the strains in single or mixed infections. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for mosquitoes fed on groups of 4 mice. Data are representative of two independent experiments. * = P < 0.05, ** = P < 0.005, *** = P < 0.001