Unlike viruses and bacteria, P. falciparum malaria parasites can trigger type I IFNs in the absence of Toll-like receptors (TLR3 and TLR4) and their signaling proteins (MyD88 and TRIF); rather, they use melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 protein (MDA5) and signaling via the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS), which activates the transcription factors IRF3 and IRF7 [28]. The gene discussed is MAVS; the disease is malaria.