These data suggest that, as for human NK cells responding to P. falciparum‐iRBCs 10, IL‐2‐mediated signaling pathways synergize with cytokine and/or contact‐mediated signals from myeloid cells to maximize the very early IFN‐γ response to blood‐stage malaria infection and that this response may be a crucial determinant of the eventual outcome of infection. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and infection.