NR3C1 and infection: Additionally, in spite of the fact that cortisol level contributes to stress-induced infection susceptibility [34,45] and polymorphism in the glucocorticoid receptor gene influences the carrier state of S. aureus [31,46], similarly to testosterone level, no difference in cortisol level was found between individuals colonized and noncolonized with S. aureus, suggesting that genetics and other host factors are more important than hormone levels per se [47].