IFNG and infection: Indeed, we observed that J774A.1 cells treated with LieIF/IFN-γ, pre- or post-infection, led to a significant increase of ROS generation which suggests that LieIF, in synergy with IFN–γ, is able to confer protection to L. donovani infection by driving the innate immune response towards the up-regulation of NO and ROS, the potent macrophage-derived microbicidal molecules that are critical in controlling Leishmania infection [68], [69].