Additionally, early infection of the cecum by S. Enteritidis appears to target most STAT proteins (STAT1, STAT3, STAT4, STAT6) which were all significantly dephosphorylated during the first 24 h p.i. The lone exception was STAT5B which was significantly phosphorylated at Tyr749 at all three early post-infection time points following infection with S. Enteritidis. The gene discussed is SOAT1; the disease is infection.