Fig. 5

Decreasing the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription (stat) does not impact spirochete migration in the tick and transmission to the murine host. Double-stranded stat RNA (ds stat) or control ds gfp RNA (ds gfp) was injected into the anal pore of B. burgdorferi-infected nymphs and ticks fed to repletion on pathogen-free C3H/HeN mice and the following parameters evaluated: A Engorgement weights; qRT-PCR assessment of transcript levels for Bstat in the tick midguts; C peritrophin1 (prtf1) in tick midguts; D transmission electron microscopy of 48-h-fed midguts; qPCR assessment of B. burgdorferi burden in EflaB in the tick midguts and salivary glands (sg); D Skin of mice at days 7, 14, and 21 days post-tick detachment; and E the heart and joints of mice at 21 days post-tick detachment. Each data point in A represents 1 tick; B, C, and E represent a pool of 3 ticks; and F and G represent one mouse. Error bars are + SEM. Significance of differences assessed by non-parametric Mann-Whitney test in A, B, C, E, F, and G (***p<0.0001)