Fig. 4

Inducible knockout of host ferritin could normalize the growth of PyDMT1 hypomorph to that of the control parasite. a Parasitemia of BALB/c mice infected with PyDMT1-HA and Pydmt1-C2 parasites, after injection with 200 mg/kg iron dextran. Iron dextran was injected for 3 consecutive days in advance before PyDMT1-HA and C2 inoculation. Parasitemia were recorded at day 2 and day 3 (the day of inoculation as day 0) (N = 5, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test. ***P < 0.001). b LIP of RBC after 5 days iron dextran injection to the mice (N = 3, t-test, n.s. no significance). c The schedule of ferritin (Fth1) inducible knockout. d Body weights and survivals (N = 11, log-rank test, **P < 0.01) of Fth^R26△/△ (N = 14) and Fth^fl/fl mice, after tamoxifen administration (start at day 0). e Expression of Fth1, Fpn1, Dmt1, and Tfr1 mRNA of blood cells in Fth^fl/fl (N = 3) and Fth^R26△/△ (N = 3), 10 days after tamoxifen administration (t-test, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01), suggesting an elevation of intracellular iron in blood cells. f Parasitemia of Fth^R26△/△ (N = 7) and Fth^fl/fl (N = 5) mice after 2 days of infection with PyDMT1-HA and Pydmt1-C2 parasites (one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01). g Parasitemia of Fth^R26△/△ (N = 7) and Fth^fl/fl (N = 5) mice 3 days after infection with PyDMT1-HA or Pydmt1-C2 parasites (one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01). h Merozoite numbers of PyDMT1-HA and Pydmt1-C2 parasites cultured in Fth^R26△/△ or Fth.^fl/fl blood cells (N = 80 parasites from three independent experiments, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test. ****P < 0.0001)