“Basal” constitutive expression of regulatory IRGs that can modulate cellular processes such as metabolism, differentiation, proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis, in addition to their more prominent protective role in viral and bacterial infection and general immunoregulation, may be a crucial role for this unique IFN in tonic signaling to tune the mucosal innate immune system. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and bacterial infectious disease.