As CD8+ T cells appeared to be major cytokine producers among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of stat1loxP/loxP/Vav-cre mice (Supplementary Fig. 4c), our results suggest an exacerbated cytokine response could be triggered in a PBMC-independent manner to counteract the defect in the response of peripheral T cells to infection. This evidence concerns the gene VAV1 and infection.