Chlamydia trachomatis infection inhibits both bax and bak activation induced by staurosporine

We have previously shown that Chlamydia trachomatis inhibits host cell apoptosis and blocks mitochondrial cytochrome c release. We now report that activation of both Bax and Bak, two proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family that regulate mitochondrial cytochrome c release, was inhibited in chlamydia-infected cells. This observation has provided new information on the mechanisms of chlamydial antiapoptotic activity.