Similarly, analysis of caspase-3 in HeLa cells revealed a significant increase in the caspase-3/pro-caspase-3 ratio (90% ± 0.07 and 40% ± 0.08) in silenced non-infected HeLa cells, and a strong increase of the same ratio (threefold ± 0.46) after infection with both meningococci (Fig. 9A, D, E). Here, CASP3 is linked to infection.