MAF1 and infection: However, it has also been shown that expression of an HMA+ copy of MAF1 (specifically TgMAF1RHb1 [13; GenBank accession no. KU761334], here referred to as MAF1b) in parasites that do not normally exhibit HMA provided a competitive advantage in a mixed population of HMA+ and HMA− parasites during the acute phase of infection (13), suggesting that in the type II genetic, background, MAF1b expression (and therefore HMA itself) can influence infection outcome in vivo.