Thus, to test whether MIF inhibition might reduce IL-1β release in the context of malaria, we treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas of Papua New Guinea with Plasmodium falciparum CS2-infected red blood cells (CS2-RBC) ex vivo, in the presence or absence of a MIF inhibitor. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is malaria.