Antibody kinetics in tsetse exposed mice.

Evolution over time in the absence of tsetse fly challenge (from day 28 onwards) of the anti-G. m. morsitans saliva IgG concentrations (A, B, C) and the anti-rTsal1 IgG concentrations (D, E, F) in mice (n = 5/group) exposed multiple times to a single fly (B, E) or 10 flies (A, D). Presented data are the IgG concentrations relative to the highest responder plasma and expressed as percent based on a standard dilution series. Box plots represent the means, with minimum and maximum and the 75-25% percentiles. The average antibody half-life (T1/22, C, F) over the 2 exposure groups (n = 10) was determined by a two-phase non-linear decay regression (dotted line) of the declining antibody concentrations relative to the concentration recorded after cessation of the tsetse exposure (day 28 set as starting concentration of 100%). Scatter plots indicate the mean concentrations with the 95% CI.