In response to diverse stimuli (death receptor or toll-like receptor stimulation, pathogenic infection, or other factors), necroptosis is initiated and precisely regulated by the receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) with the involvement of its partners (RIPK1, TRIF, DAI, or others), ultimately leading to the activation of its downstream substrate, mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). The gene discussed is MLKL; the disease is infection.