Splenectomy or CL treatment prevents clearance of Sptb-mutant erythrocytes. IVET assay results (as described in Figure 4) in splenectomized host animals (8 mice) (A), and host mice injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; n = 4) or CL (n = 4) (B). Percentage of infected cells (ratio to +/+) (Ai) and remaining cells (ratio to +/+) (Aii) in splenectomized mice. Percentage of infected cells (ratio to +/+) on day 10 of infection in PBS- and CL-injected host mice (Bi), and remaining cells (ratio to +/+) after PBS/CL injection (Bii). Parasitemia (Ci) and survival (Cii) of splenectomized WT and Sptb^MRI26194/+ mice infected with 1 × 10⁴P chabaudi parasites (7-8 mice per group). Mean and standard error of the mean are indicated. The 1-sample t test was used to calculate P values for ratios; Mann-Whitney U test was used otherwise. *P < .05, **P < .01, ***P < .001.