SLC11A1 and infection: The importance of NRAMP1 in the host response to infection is further underlined by many studies showing that mice with a functional Nramp1 (Slc11a1) allele are more resistant to infection with a variety of intracellular pathogens including Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Leishmania donovanii, and S. Typhimurium (Forbes and Gros, 2001; Cellier et al., 2007).