While WT mice succumbed to bacterial infection within 11 days, Clec4a4−/− mice showed an enhanced survival rate (P<0.01), which was associated with significant reduction in splenic bacterial burden, and prominent elevation in serum productions of IL-6, IL-12p40 and IFN-γ (Supplementary Fig. 10a–c). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is bacterial infectious disease.