Recombinant PbHsp60 disrupts the beneficial effect of CFA on experimental PCM.

<p>Mice inoculated with 1 x 10⁶ <i>P</i>. <i>brasiliensis</i> yeast cells were treated, on day 21 postinfection, with PBS, CFA, or CFA emulsified rPbHsp60 (rPbHsp60 + CFA; 50 μg). Thirty days after the treatment animals were sacrificed and lung (A), liver (B), and spleen (C) homogenates were analyzed for the CFU of <i>P</i>. <i>brasiliensis</i> yeast cells. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation of five mice per group obtained from three independent experiments. Sections (5-μm) of these organs were stained with H&E and microscopically analyzed for the extension of granulomatous lesions using Image J software (panels D-F). Bars represent the mean ± standard deviation of percentage lesion areas; *P < 0.05 compared with the other groups. Panels G to I show representative images captured from the pulmonary tissue of mice of each experimental group: PBS-treated (G), CFA (H) and rPbHsp60 + CFA (I). Scale bars of the lung sections indicate 1 mm. Images in the bottom panel correspond to black squares indicated on the upper panels.