EphA2 inhibition does not impair <i>P</i>. <i>yoelii</i> infection.

<p><b>A.</b> Hepa1-6 cells were transfected with siRNA oligonucleotides targeting mouse EphA2 or CD81, or electroporated without siRNA (mock). Cells were infected with <i>PyGFP</i> sporozoites 48 hours after siRNA transfection, and the number of EEFs 24 hours post-infection was determined by fluorescence microscopy after UIS4 staining. NS, non-significant; *, p<0.05 (Kruskal-Wallis with Dunns post-test). <b>B.</b> HepG2/CD81cells were transfected with siRNA oligonucleotides targeting human EphA2 or human CD81, or with a control siRNA (siCtrl). Cells were infected with <i>PyGFP</i> sporozoites 48 hours after siRNA transfection, and the percentage of infected (GFP-positive) cells was determined by FACS 24 hours post-infection. NS, non-significant; *, p<0.05 (Kruskal-Wallis with Dunns post-test). <b>C.</b> HepG2/CD81 cells were transfected with siRNA targeting EphA2 or with a control siRNA (siCtrl) and infected 48 hours later with <i>PyGFP</i> sporozoites. Infected cultures were fixed 24 hours post-infection and stained with anti-UIS4 antibodies (red) and the nuclear stain Hoechst 33342 (blue). The images show PyGFP EEFs (green) surrounded by a UIS4-positive PVM (red). Scale bar, 10 μm. <b>D.</b> Hepa1-6 cells were incubated with PyGFP sporozoites in the presence of increasing concentrations of the EphA2-blocking antibody D4A2, of a control antibody (DA1E, IgG Ctrl, used at the same dilution as D4A2 highest concentration) or without antibody (Ctrl). The number of EEFs was determined 24 hours post-infection by fluorescence microscopy after UIS4 staining. NS, non-significant (Kruskal-Wallis with Dunns post-test).