Second, short-term neutralization of IFN-α/β immediately before cutaneous infection with L. major strongly reduced the expression of iNOS protein, the activation of NK cells, the expression of IFN-γ mRNA, and the containment of the parasites at days 1 and 2 of infection in the skin and draining lymph node (dLN) (21). This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and infection.