Fig. 5

Immunoprotective efficacy of Schistosoma japonicum erythroid Krüppel-like factor (SjEKLF) in S. japonicum-infected mice. Mice were immunised with His-tagged recombinant SjEKLF, SjSP-13 or PBS (negative control) (n = 10 per group). After immunisation, the mice were challenged with cercariae (40 ± 2 per mouse). The Blank group was immunised with PBS and did not receive cercariae. The mice were killed 42 days post infection. a Normalized body weight of mice (weight of mice at 42 days post infection/its pre-infection weight), b liver weight and c spleen weight were determined and compared between the groups. d Worms and f eggs were collected and counted under a microscope. The results are representative of two independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.0001 compared with the PBS group