At 24 h post-infection, qPCR demonstrated marked upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax mRNA (p < 0.001 vs. PBS control) concomitant with significant downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (p < 0.05), resulting in a reduced Bcl-2/Bax ratio (p < 0.05) (Figure 4A). This evidence concerns the gene BAX and infection.