Serological detection of <i>Tg</i>HSP70, specific antibodies and immune complexes in <i>T. gondii</i> infected animals.

<p>Detection of anti-STAg IgG (<b>A</b>), anti-STAg IgG2a/IgG1 ratio (<b>B</b>), anti-<i>Tg</i>HSP70 IgG (<b>C</b>), circulating <i>Tg</i>HSP70 (<b>D</b>) and <i>Tg</i>HSP70-specific ICs (<b>E</b>) in serum samples of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice infected with <i>T. gondii</i> and/or treated with DXM. Serum samples were collected in different days p.i. as well as from uninfected/untreated mice (SHAM) and analyzed by ELISA. (<b>F</b>): Correlation among anti-<i>Tg</i>HSP70 IgG (x axis), circulating <i>Tg</i>HSP70(y axis) and <i>Tg</i>HSP70-IgG IC (dots) obtained from both lineages of mice were analyzed for IC kinetics. Darker dots represent higher amounts of ICs shown in <b>E</b>. Optimal conditions (light grey area) for IC formation are represented. ND = non-detected. E.I. = ELISA index (refer to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0096527#s2" target="_blank">materials and methods</a> section for details). E.I. values above 1.2 (dashed line in <b>A</b>, <b>C</b>, <b>D</b> and <b>E</b>) were considered positive. Data are representative of at least two independent experiments of 5 mice per group that provided similar results. *Significant differences between different treatment conditions within the same mouse lineage (ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison post-test; *<i>P</i><0.05); ^†Significant differences between the two mouse lineages submitted to the same treatment conditions (Student's <i>t</i> test; ^†<i>P</i><0.05). d.p.i. = days post-infection.