In contrast, there was a progressive increase in the percentage of CD34+ cells with time p.i. (Fig. 2Ba; ANOVA F: 3.601, P = 0.027), although the increase was not statistically significant until 96 h p.i. The number of CD45− CD326− CD34+ hair follicle-associated keratinocytes also significantly increased 24 h after infection and this expansion was sustained at 96 h p.i. (Fig. 2Bb; ANOVA F: 23.98, P < 0.001). This evidence concerns the gene PTPRC and infection.