This finding suggests that STING signaling in vivo impairs cutaneous host defense against S. aureus. Whereas many WT mice still exhibited a bioluminescent S. aureus signal in their wound at 7 and 10 days post-infection, the StingGt/Gt mice displayed significantly improved clearance at Day 3 and Day 5, and complete clearance of bioluminescent signal at Day 7. The gene discussed is STING1; the disease is infection.