SPP1 and infection: To determine whether DAF-16 is required for the suppression of host defense genes, we quantified the mRNA levels of thn-2, lys-7, and spp-1 by qRT-PCR in N2, daf-2(e1370), daf-16(mu86), and double mutant daf-16(mu86);daf-2(e1370) worms under normal growth conditions (on OP50-1) or following infection with PA14.