IL-7Rα expression is decreased upon T-cell activation: during acute viral infections, the expression of IL-7Rα by viral antigen-specific T cells is transiently decreased [69,81,82] and recovers at late time points after infection when an efficient memory response is obtained [69,83] while IL-7Rα expression remains at a low level in the setting of inefficient memory responses in chronically infected subjects [81]. The gene discussed is IL7R; the disease is infection.