For example, in mice, modest levels of Plasmodium infection lead to increased expression of CD40, a marker of immune activation induced by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in dendritic cells and macrophages, which in turn enhances the expression of stimulator of interferon genes (STING), key regulators of the innate immune response pathway, and ultimately leads to augmented type I interferon (IFN) (such as IFNα and IFNβ) production during early infection. Here, IFNA1 is linked to infection.