OPN levels in mice also peaked in the liver (p = 0.0001 vs non-infected; p = 0.0245 vs 6 weeks and p = 0.0104 vs 30 weeks) and serum (p = 0.0286 vs non-infected; p = 0.0286 vs 6 weeks; p = 0.0286 vs 8 weeks and p = 0.004 vs 30 weeks) 7 weeks post-infection, at a time when the livers were enriched with necrotic-exudative granulomas and inflammatory cells (Fig 2B, 2C and 2D). Here, SPP1 is linked to infection.