Nevertheless, the absence of IRF-5 significantly impacted the maintenance of IFN-γ-producing cells over the chronic stage of infection, when lower frequencies of IFN-γ+ cells (Fig. 3A,B, upper panel) and lower amounts of IFN-γ per cell (Fig. 3B, lower panel) were observed, compared with the control group. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is infection.