We observed that higher IL‐17A, IL‐10 and sE‐selectin levels identify patients with IE infection foci (diagnosed by TEE or TTE imaging) when compared to extravascular infections (Figure 2a, b and Supplementary figure 2a–c), while the other five biomarkers, available risk factors or clinical data did not (P > 0.05, data not shown). The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is infection.