IL6 and infection: In this study, we investigated the functional role of the two known C5a receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2, in the host response to S. aureus. We found that C5aR1−/− mice exhibited greater susceptibility to S. aureus bloodstream infection than wild type and C5aR2−/− mice, as demonstrated by the significantly higher bacterial loads in the kidneys and heart at 24 h of infection, and by the higher levels of inflammatory IL-6 in serum.