TNF-α was not affected by infection (F1, 12 = 3.4, P = 0.8) or any first-order interactions, microbiota treatment × V. anguillarum exposure (F1, 12 = 0.1, P = 0.78), microbiota treatment × population (F1, 14 = 2.1, P = 0.17), and population × V. anguillarum exposure (F1, 12 < 0.1, P = 0.92). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and infection.