Thus, infection of chronic ethanol-fed mice with K. pneumoniae, which normally generates a Th1 response, instead generated a profound Th2 response and IL-10 production within the lungs, and neutralization of the IL-10 response improved bacterial clearance.12 These data suggest that alcohol misuse shifts the T-cell phenotype and activation state to a nonproliferative inflammatory condition with significantly reduced ability to respond to infectious insult. The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is infection.