MUC5AC and infection: Since our findings demonstrated that the Trypanosoma cruzi sialoglycoproteins can modulate the splenic cytokine response, a matter that could be related to the enhanced parasite virulence seen in the in vivo administration of mice with Tc mucin, we next tested the hypothesis that the infection in Tc Muc-treated mice may have altered the T cell responses, thus inducing a loss of protection of parasitic load and increased signs of disease.