CD4 and malaria: For instance, type-I IFNs are involved in migration, activation and differentiation of DCs, and their ability to stimulate naive T cells9–13, Type I interferons (IFNs) can also affect CD4+, CD8+ T cells and NK cell responses depending on the pathogenic agent7,14, In studies of Plasmodium berghei infection using IFNAR1−/− mouse models, type I IFN signaling is shown to directly affect DC function, limiting their ability to prime IFN-γ producing CD4+ T cells15,16, Studies in severe malaria showed the role of IRF-1 in regulating IL-12 and IFN-γ dependent control17.