Our RNAi data showed that knockdown of all apoptosis-associated TRP target proteins (except for DEAD-box helicase 5 [DDX5]) significantly influenced bacterial load, thus, the interactions of TRPs with different apoptosis-associated proteins may serve an opposite function by inhibiting or promoting apoptosis in the different stages of infection, to facilitate ehrlichial survival and release, respectively. Here, DDX5 is linked to infection.