In addition, the decrease in IL-8 mRNA levels seen in the Ab4 WT infection group was attenuated in the Ab4 ΔORF1/2 infection group, and Tbet levels in the Ab4 ΔORF1/2 infection group were higher compared to both the Ab4 WT infection group and the controls during this period although not quite reaching significance (p-values: 0.08 on day 3 and 0.07 on day 5). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and infection.