Implant-associated osteomyelitis in C57BL/6, CCL20<sup>-/-</sup>, and CCR6<sup>-/-</sup> mice revealed an early increase in planktonic bacterial growth on day 1 and increased bacterial loads in soft tissue and bone on day 14 post-infection in both CCL20<sup>-/-</sup> and CCR6<sup>-/-</sup> mice. The gene discussed is CCR6; the disease is osteomyelitis.