Within-host Competition Does Not Select for Virulence in Malaria Parasites; Studies with Plasmodium yoelii
Figure 3
The relative proportions of strains of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii in mixed strain infections throughout the course of infections in mice (Panels A-C), and the parasite densities of the strains in single and mixed infections (Panels D-G).
Panels A, B and C show the relative proportions of the avirulent CU strain in combination with the avirulent 17XNL strain, the intermediately virulent 17X1.1pp and the virulent strain 17XL respectively. Individual data points are mean proportions of 4 mice per group. The parasite density (number of asexual stage parasites per mL of blood) of the avirulent strain CU in a single infection is compared to the parasite density of this strain when in competition with the other strains in Panel D; that of avirulent 17XNL in a single infection or in competition with CU in Panel E; the intermediately virulent 17X1.1pp in a single infection or in competition with CU in Panel F; the virulent 17XL in a single infection or in competition with CU in Panel G. Strains in brackets indicate the competing strain. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean of 4 mice per group. Data are representative of two independent experiments.