Fig. 1

M-AB169 (1640) supports the sexual development of paired virgin S. japonicum females. A Fast Blue BB staining (red) and DAPI labeling (gray) showing the vitellaria (left) and ovary (right) of the freshly perfused sexually mature females (n = 20) and immature virgin females (n = 18). Fast Blue BB labels mature vitellocytes. B Fast Blue BB staining (red) and DAPI labeling (gray) showing status of vitellaria (left) and ovary (right) in the paired virgin females after culturing in AB169 for 26 days and AB169 (1640) and m-AB169 (1640) for 21 days. Representative images from six experiments with n ≥ 60 parasites in each group. C Evaluation of egg production of virgin females pairing with males after cultivation in AB169 (D26), AB169 (1640) (D21), and m-AB169 (1640) (D21); Egg production was examined with n ≥ 10 worms for each group. The total number of eggs produced during the cultivation in each group was counted for calculation. n = 6 biological replicates. ns, not significant, *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, t test. Error bars represent the SD. D Days of the initial egg production by worms cultured in AB169 (1640) and m-AB169 (1640). n ≥ 3 parasites for each statistic; n = 14 biological replicates. Error bars represent the SD