<i>L. braziliensis</i> infection prevents the upregulation of IFN-inducible genes due to SGS pre-immunization.

<p>BALB/c mice were inoculated 3 times in the right ear pinna every 2 wks with <i>Lu. intermedia</i> SGS and then challenged in the left ear 2 wks later with <i>Lu. intermedia</i> SGS plus 1×10⁶<i>L. braziliensis</i> stationary phase promastigotes. The left ears were collected 2 wks after infection, homogenized and the expression of IFN-inducible genes such as (A) Ifit1, Irgm1 and Irgm2, and the expression of IFN-related genes like (B) Stat1 and CXCL9 was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Relative mRNA expression normalized to the housekeeping gene HPRT is presented as the mean +SEM (n = 5 mice per group); * p<0.05 by Student's <i>t</i>-test.