Activated monocytes are known to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), that facilitate the clearance of parasites by recruiting immune cells to sites of infection6, increasing cell-to-cell interaction7, and promoting the differentiation of naïve lymphocytes into their adaptive immune cell counterparts8 to control parasitemia. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is parasitic infectious disease.