In addition, α-SMA-positive cells and collagen (SR staining) accumulated around the infectious foci at the early stage, with gradually decreasing abundances at the late stage, consistent with F4/80+ macrophage infiltration in the liver at different times after infection (P < 0.0001 for α-SMA-positive cells; P < 0.0001 for collagen) (Fig 2C, 2E and 2F). This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and infection.