TcCRT+/– inoculated mice showed significant reduction of specific anti <i>T. cruzi</i> antibody levels.

<p>BALB/c mice were inoculated with 5×10⁵ metacyclic trypomastigotes. Results are expressed as the ratio of the absorbance of each serum sample at 490-nm. Dotted lines: Cut-off value adopted for positivity calculated as the mean of the values obtained for the negative controls (inoculated with PBS) plus three times the standard deviation. Serum samples were taken at the intervals indicated. TcCRT+/– inoculated mice showed significant reduction of antibody levels compared to those inoculated with wild type and TcCRT+ clones (p = 0.01 for both cases). Positive controls: serum from mice infected with the virulent Tulahuén <i>T. cruzi</i> strain.