Because Ly6C+CCR2+CX3CR1+ monocytes originate as MHCII-CD11c-CD86- immature cells in the blood (Fig 4K; see also S5C Fig and S3C Fig), our data suggest that L. major actively prevents the maturation of inflammatory monocytes towards an MHCII+ phenotype at the site of infection, but that this does not occur at sites of secondary challenge. Here, ITGAX is linked to infection.