In nonlethal Plasmodium yoelii infections, NK cells have been shown to contribute to liver‐stage immunity 18, 19 and to be activated and secrete IFN‐γ during the first 24 h of blood‐stage infection 5, 20 but their contribution to protection is disputed; much less in the way of NK activation is observed during the early stage of lethal P. yoelii infections 20. Here, IFNG is linked to infection.