The strict tropism of HBV for hepatocytes avoiding infection of dendritic cells, the stealth function of HBV avoiding inflammation and the weak intrahepatic priming of virus-specific T cells6,13,18 all contribute to insufficient priming of HBV-specific CD8 T cell immunity but the liver immune rheostat contributes to the inhibition of the effector function of HBV-specific CD8 T cells while they recognize HBV-infected hepatocytes. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is infection.