SPCLIP1 is required for triggering the melanization cascade.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Reducing western blot analysis of CLIPA8 in hemolymph collected from control <i>LacZ</i> dsRNA-injected (top) and <i>SPCLIP1</i> kd mosquitoes (bottom) after injection with <i>E. coli</i> bioparticles. Full-length and cleaved CLIPA8 are labeled CLIPA8-F and CLIPA8-C, respectively. Images are representative of two independent biological replicates. (<b>B</b>) PO activity measured in hemolymph samples collected from ds<i>LacZ</i>, ds<i>SPCLIP1</i> and ds<i>CLIPA8</i> treated mosquitoes 6 h after injection with bacteria. Data are representative of two independent biological replicates. See also <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003623#ppat.1003623.s002" target="_blank">Figure S2</a>. (<b>C</b>) GFP-expressing <i>P. berghei</i> oocysts (green circles) and melanized ookinetes (gray squares) in ds<i>LacZ</i>, ds<i>SPCLIP1</i>, ds<i>CTL4</i> and ds<i>CTL4</i>/ds<i>SPCLIP1</i> injected mosquitoes 7 days post infection were counted. Lines indicate median infection intensity values. Data were combined from three independent biological replicates. For statistical analysis, ds<i>CTL4</i> and ds<i>SPCLIP1</i> injected mosquitoes were compared to ds<i>LacZ</i> while ds<i>CTL4</i>/ds<i>SPCLIP1</i> injected mosquitoes were compared to ds<i>CTL4</i>. Asterisks indicate Kruskal-Wallis P-values<0.01.