In this study, we confirm the involvement of a DNA-sensing pathway in TBK1 activation using STING-knockout (KO) cells during infection of Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a major bacterial pathogen and target of xenophagy, and show that a STING-mediated pathway is not involved in TBK1 activation during GAS infection. The gene discussed is TBK1; the disease is infection.