STING1 and infection: Stimulator of interferon genes (STING, also known as TMEM173) is an endoplasmic reticulum- (ER-) related immune adaptor protein that can trigger a PAMP- (e.g., bacterial cyclic dinucleotide [CDN]) or DAMP-induced (e.g., DNA) inflammatory response, which has important functions in inflammation, infection, and tissue damage [7].