RelA is required for long-term survival of Mtb in vitro and in vivo; however, deletion of RelA is reported to have no effect on Mtb growth during short-term macrophage infections (Dahl et al., 2003; Klinkenberg et al., 2010; Primm et al., 2000; Weiss and Stallings, 2013). The gene discussed is RELA; the disease is infection.