Fig. 3

The role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in Giardia duodenalis infection. Mice were gavaged (i.g.) with G. duodenalis cysts and then received MCC950 treatment (i.p.) or not. The PBS or MCC950 single treatment groups were both used as controls. a The experimental groups and treatment scheme. b The body weight of mice in each different treatment group was monitored for 7 days. Differences between the G. duodenalis infection group and G. duodenalis infection + MCC950 treatment group were analyzed by the t-test using SPSS version 22.0 software. Asterisks indicate a significant difference at *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 or ***P < 0.001. c Parasite burden was determined by counting the number of trophozoites in the duodenal lavage fluid. Differences between the G. duodenalis infection group and G. duodenalis infection + with MCC950 treatment group were analyzed by the t-test using SPSS version 22.0 software. Asterisks indicate a significant difference at *P < 0.05. d The duodenum histopathological hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining results. The red arrow points to villi lesions; the green arrow points to crypt lesions. Scale bar: 100 μm. e, f Statistical analysis of villus height and crypt height in mice duodenum. Asterisks indicate a significant difference at *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. Results were obtained from 7 independent biological experiments. BW, Body weight; i.g. gavage delivery route; i.p., intraperitoneal delivery route; n.s., not significant (P > 0.05); PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; WT, wild type