Fig. 1. T. gondii-infected HL-60 and U937 cells are partially protected from fragmentation of genomic DNA induced by pro-apoptotic stimuli. Human-derived cells were infected at parasite to host ratios of 10:1 (+) and 30:1 (++) or were left uninfected. After 30 minutes, HL-60 and U937 cells were treated with 5 µg/ml actinomycin D or 40 ng/ml TNF- in combination with 2 µg/ml cycloheximide, respectively. Eight hours after infection, genomic DNA was analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. DNA molecular weight markers (100 bp ladder) were separated in parallel. Signal intensities of bands corresponding to fragmentated genomic DNA were quantified by densitometry. Bars represent the relative intensities of representative bands, the intensities in uninfected HL-60 and U937 cells after treatment with pro-apoptotic stimuli were defined as 100%.