ITGAM and infection: For example, neutrophils have been implicated in the luminal spread of parasites through the small intestine, preventing T cell egress from the lymph nodes reduces the spread of the parasite to the spleen, and CD11b+ cells are implicated in the delivery of parasites to the brain.4, 6, 24 Although the exact role of NK cells remains to be determined, the role of uterine NK cells in transplacental transmission of infection is of particular interest in this respect.