Size of the right (black boxes) and left (white boxes) salivary glands (µm², left scale) as well as the size difference between them (µm², right scale) in flies kept unfed (sugar water only) or feeding singly and in groups on a hamster.

<p>Data are means±SEM and sample sizes are indicated. Significance levels are shown for mean differences between the right and left glands (difference L-R) between experimental groups and for comparisons between left and right glands (paired within individuals) within each group (see <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000503#s4" target="_blank">results</a> for details). <i>P</i>-values are <i>P</i><0.001 ***, <i>P</i><0.01 **.</p

Fecundity measured as the number of eggs laid following a bloodmeal.

<p>Data are means±SEM and sample sizes are indicated. <i>P</i>-values are <i>P</i><0.001 ***, <i>P</i><0.05 *, non-significant NS.</p

Size of the right and left glands (µm²) and the size difference between them (µm²) in flies kept unfed (with sugar water available) and flies fed singly or in groups (20 individuals) on a naive hamster.

<p>All data are means±SD (sample size).</p

Fecundity measured as the number of eggs laid after a bloodmeal in flies feeding singly (white dots) and in groups (black dots) in relation to feeding duration (min).

<p>Fecundity measured as the number of eggs laid after a bloodmeal in flies feeding singly (white dots) and in groups (black dots) in relation to feeding duration (min).</p

Difference in feeding duration in flies feeding on older pre-exposed hosts (white boxes) or on young naïve hosts (grey boxes) in groups or singly.

<p>Data are means±SEM and sample sizes are indicated. Significance levels are shown for comparisons between flies fed on naive and pre-exposed hosts within experimental groups, for the effect of aggregation and for the interaction between aggregation level and host age (interaction). <i>P</i>-values are <i>P</i><0.001 ***, non-significant NS.</p

Aggregated and single female flies feeding on a vertebrate host with males in courtship display in the vicinity of feeding females.

<p>Aggregated and single female flies feeding on a vertebrate host with males in courtship display in the vicinity of feeding females.</p

The time taken to initiate a bloodmeal in flies feeding in groups.

<p>Data points are shown and quartiles and sample sizes are indicated. <i>P</i>-values are <i>P</i><0.001 ***.</p

The time taken to initiate a bloodmeal (min), its duration (min), the resulting number of eggs produced and profitability measured as the number of eggs produced per unit of time spent feeding (min) in flies feeding singly or in groups (20 individuals) on naive and older pre-exposed hamsters.

<p>All data are means±SD (sample size).</p

Cytokine production before and after challenge of mice with <i>L. major</i> -infected sand flies.

<p>Mice were vaccinated subcutaneously with 10 µg KSAC+20 µg GLA-SE, 10 µg L110f+20 µg GLA-SE, or 20 µg GLA-SE alone. IFN-γ (A) or IL-10 (B) production was measured by ELISA after <i>in vitro</i> stimulation of spleen cells with 100 µg SLA, 10 µg recombinant KSAC, or 10 µg recombinant L110f. Results are from stimulations performed at two time points: three weeks after the last immunization and one week post challenge. (C) Ratio of IFN-γ∶ IL-10 in vaccinated mice. Mean and SEM of three mice per group. Data are representative of two independent experiments. nd = none detected.</p

Antibody responses induced by vaccination with KSAC+GLA-SE or L110f+GLA-SE.

<p>BALB/c mice were vaccinated by the subcutaneous route three times every three weeks with either 20 µg adjuvant alone (GLA-SE), 10 µg KSAC+20 µg GLA-SE, or 10 µg L110f+20 µg GLA-SE. Serum was obtained one day before each immunization and 20 days after the last immunization. (A) KSAC- and L110f-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody levels in mice vaccinated with the respective antigen. (B) Ratio of antigen-specific IgG2a∶IgG1 levels in mice vaccinated with KSAC+GLA-SE or L110f+GLA-SE. The OD values are presented after subtraction of the OD value of mice vaccinated with GLA-SE alone. Ten mice were used in each group. Data are representative of two independent experiments.</p