<i>In vivo</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> analysis of iRBC uptake by splenic DCs during crisis.

<p><b>(A-D)</b> B6.CD11-YFP mice were i.p. infected with 1 × 10⁶ mCherry-<i>Pc</i> iRBCs. Spleens were analyzed by CIVM after eight days, at a time of day when mature parasite stages predominated. <b>(A)</b> A snapshot shows the subcapsular RP. <b>(B)</b> CIVM 3D animation shows the presence of few mCherry-<i>Pc</i> iRBCs (red) attached to YFP⁺ cells (green). <b>(C)</b> Percentage of mCherry⁺ cells in the YFP⁺ cell population is shown (mean ± SEM). <b>(D)</b> YFP⁺ cell volume and sphericity are shown. Black, red and blue dots are from three different experiments. Horizontal lines represent mean values and SEM. <b>(E</b> and <b>F)</b> B6 mice were i.p. infected with 1 × 10⁶<i>Pc</i> iRBCs. At eight days p.i., half of the B6 mice were re-infected i.v. with 1 × 10⁸ purified mature CTV-<i>Pc</i> iRBCs. Spleens were analyzed by flow cytometry after 15 min. <b>(E)</b> Representative contour plots show CTV staining in the CD11c⁺ cells of <i>Pc</i>-infected mice that were re-infected or not with CTV-<i>Pc</i> iRBCs. CD11c⁺ cells in the CD3^-CD19^-DX5^-Ter119^- cell population were analyzed. Data show the percentages of CTV⁺ cells in the CD11c⁺ cell population. <b>(F)</b> The numbers of total and CTV⁺CD11c⁺ cells per spleen were calculated from the data obtained in <b>E</b> (means ± SD). <b>(G</b> and <b>H)</b> B6 mice were i.p. infected with 1 × 10⁶<i>Pc</i> iRBCs or GFP-<i>Pc</i> iRBCs. Spleens were analyzed after eight days, at a time of day when mature parasite stages predominated. <b>(G)</b> Representative contour plots obtained by flow cytometry show GFP staining in CD11c⁺ cells of mice that were infected with <i>Pc</i> iRBCs or GFP-<i>Pc</i> iRBC. CD11c⁺ cells in the CD3^-CD19^-DX5^-Ter119^- cell population were analyzed. Data show the percentages of GFP⁺ cells in the CD11c⁺ cell population. <b>(H)</b> Numbers of total and GFP⁺CD11c⁺ cells per spleen were calculated from the data obtained in <b>G</b>. In <b>A</b> and <b>B</b>, the scale bars correspond to 50 µm and 30 µm, respectively. One representative experiment out of three (n = 2) is shown. In <b>C</b> and <b>D</b>, data were obtained using Imaris software. Data from three experiments (n = 2) are shown. In <b>E-H</b>, one representative experiment out of three (n = 5) is shown.