TLR9 and infection: As shown here, TLR responses were differentially modulated during the infection: responses to TLR2 agonist (Pam3Cys) were moderately boosted (1.5 fold increase) during T. cruzi infection; whereas, the infection induced a priming of the TLR9, leading to dramatically increased production of IL-12/IL-23p40 (6 fold) when exposed to TLR9 ligand (CpG DNA) (Fig. 4A).