The induction of CD4+ Th1 cells specific for parasite antigens is critical to control infection due to their ability to secrete IFN-γ, but the activation of other cell subsets to produce this cytokine, like Leishmania antigen specific CD8+ T cells, is also required for a protective host response to L. major infection in the C57BL/6 mice strain. Here, IFNG is linked to infection.