Furthermore, we found experimental evidence in support of a putative role for T2 RNases in host defense against bacterial infections as well, since lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection into the leech body wall triggered a marked increase in the expression levels of endogenous leech T2 RNase (named HvRNASET2) protein in both host macrophages and granulocytes. The gene discussed is RNASET2; the disease is bacterial infectious disease.