Fig. 2.

Pomegranate extract reduces T. gondii tachyzoiteand cystformation in differentiated neural cells. 3-weeks differentiated neural cells were infected with GFP-Pru T. gondii at MOI 1 for 24 ​h followed by treatment with vehicle control DMSO or 300 ​μg/ml PE for 24 ​h. (a) Fluorescence images (left) and quantification (right) of GFP ​+ ​T. gondii signals, calculated as fold change against DMSO control. 150–300 ​cells in each treatment group per experimental set (n ​= ​4) were analyzed for the GFP signals. (b) qPCR for SAG1 mRNA levels. mRNA levels were normalized against GAPDH and calculated as fold change against the DMSO control cells (n ​= ​4). (c) Immunofluorescence images (left) and quantification (right) of percentage DBA ​+ ​cells. White arrows indicate DBA ​+ ​structures. 250–500 ​cells in each treatment group per experimental set (n ​= ​4) were analyzed for the presence of DBA structure. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. All values are mean ​± ​S.E.M. Two-tailed paired t-test with a 95% confidence interval was performed. Differences against DMSO control are significant for ∗∗p ​≤ ​0.001 and ∗∗∗p ​≤ ​0.0001. Scale bars: 40 ​μm (Fig. a) or 50 ​μm (Fig. c).