TNF and infection: In the first 7 to 10 days following infection, before acquired immunity is fully activated, innate responses play a key role in containing parasitemia, through the action of microbicidal mediators (reactive nitrogen intermediates—RNI and ROS), whose production is enhanced by the action of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) released by macrophages, natural killer (NK), and γδ T cells [45, 46].