Involvement of PI 3 kinase/Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation in Toxoplasma gondii-mediated inhibition of host cell apoptosis

► T. gondii infection eliminated the staurosporine-triggered mitochondrial apoptotic events. ► T. gondii infection in vitro and in vivo induced the phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad). ► PI 3-kinase inhibitors reduced phosphorylation of Bad in a dose-dependent manner and failed to inhibit Bax translocation. ► These data suggest that anti-apoptosis by T. gondii occurs partly through phosphorylative inactivation of Bad.