The inducible HO-1 isoform is induced in response to Helicobacter pylori infection (Gobert et al., 2014), required for protection against Toxoplasma gondii (Araujo et al., 2013), and critically contributes to host resistance to Mycobacterium infections in mice (Silva-Gomes et al., 2013). Here, HMOX1 is linked to Mycobacterium infection.