A downregulation of IL21R might play a role in the persistence of colonization during the primary E. coli O157:H7-infection and re-infection of the host, since the IL-21-IL-21R pathway is important in the development of immune responses, as abnormal signaling through the IL-21R/γc/JAK3/STAT3 pathway leads to defective humoral immune responses to both T-dependent and T-independent antigens and impairs the establishment of long-lasting B-cell memory [52]. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and infection.