Thus, these results show that Ei spores are able to infect DC in a relatively silent manner, at low and moderate MOIs, and that only the exposure to high dose of infection (30:1 parasite to cell ratio) could promote a relatively weak but significant level of maturation characterized by increased expression of CD40, CD86, MHC class II and IL-6 but non-detected/low levels of IL-1β and IL-12p70. This evidence concerns the gene CD86 and infection.