Compared to the control, expression levels of STAT-1 and STAT-6 were initially downregulated early during the infection at day 3 p.i., whereas STAT-3 expression was significantly elevated and remained at high levels until the end of the observation period (F(16,68) = 5.60, p < 0.0001; Fig 6e). The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is infection.