Fig. 3

Conditional knockdown of PfSWIB leads to a change in mutually exclusive var gene transcription. qPCR analysis of the transcription level of individual var genes in two parasite lines, PfSWIB and PfSWIB∆. The data are presented as a log₂ fold change of var gene transcription levels in the PfSWIB∆ line (shield1 induced) with respect to the PfSWIB line (shield1 not induced), using the seryl-tRNA synthetase gene (PF3D7_0717700) as an endogenous control. The error bars represent the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. The red, green and blue bars in the histogram represent upsA-, upsB- and upsC-type vars. Red asterisks: 9 upregulated upsB vars (log₂ fold change ≥ 1.0, P < 0.05), black asterisks: 5 downregulated upsB vars (log₂ fold change ≤ − 1.0, P < 0.05)