Taken together, these data suggest a role for NK cells in the protective very early IFN‐γ response during murine malaria although—as anti‐asialo GM1 antibody also depletes some T‐cell populations 35 and IFN‐γ production was not investigated at the cellular level in these studies—the extent, timing, and significance of the NK‐cell contribution is unclear, as is the pathway of NK‐cell activation. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and malaria.