IE-patients:  Inclusion Criteria:  • Infectious endocarditis, defined by Duke criteria  Exclusion Criteria:  • Known rheumatic disease or immune defect  TAVI/TEVAR patients:  Inclusion Criteria:  • Scheduled for a TAVI/TEVAR procedure  Exclusion criteria:  Clinical suspicion of infection Known rheumatic disease or immune defect  Bacterial patients without IE (short infection):  Inclusion criteria  Patients admitted with an infection with gram positive bacteria, without IE Exclusion criteria Known rheumatic disease or immune defect  Blood donors:  Exclusion criteria:  Antibiotic treatment within the last 2 months Cancer, rheumatic disease or other known inflammatory disease Surgery within the last 3 months Pregnancy