IFI44 and infection: As expected, in vitro analysis of BMDMs from Ifnar1-/- and WT mice showed no difference in IFNβ secretion following infection with L. interrogans (Fig 3A); however, the expression of ISGs, such as Ifit1, Ifit3, Ifi44, and Zbp1 was significantly diminished in L. interrogans infected Ifnar1-/- BMDMs compared to WT (Fig 3B).