We found that infection of THP-1 macrophages with rickettsial species decreased the accumulation of a large number of splicing factors and other accessory proteins, such as small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), suggesting pivotal alterations in the host RNA splicing pattern during rickettsial infections. The gene discussed is SLU7; the disease is infection.