Recently, several genes related to the inflammatory response against LPS stimulation have been detected in bivalves. Such is the case of the LPS-induced TNF-a factor (LITAF), which is a novel transcription factor that critically regulates the expression of TNFa and various inflammatory cytokines in response to LPS stimulation. It has been described in three bivalve species: Pinctada fucata [75] , C. gigas [76] and C. farreri [77] .