CD8A and infection: In view of the increased transcript levels for a group of pro-apoptotic genes, the decrease in lymphocyte related transcripts, including CD3, CD8, CD19, CD64, major histocompatibility complex class II, T cell receptor β, integrins, and granzymes (Figure 1) in ZEBOV infection may result from 'bystander' lymphocyte apoptosis and subsequent depletion of lymphocytes in circulating peripheral blood [14,23-25].