In depth analysis showed that Mtb-specific CD4 T-cell responses of TB patients from TZ were significantly enriched in polyfunctional IFN-γ+IL-2+TNF-α+IL-4/5/13- CD4 T cells (triple IFN-γ/IL-2/TNF-α Mtb-specific CD4 T cells) and in IFN-γ-IL-2-TNF-α-IL-4/5/13+ CD4 T-cell populations (single IL-4/5/13 Mtb-specific CD4 T cells) as compared to TB patients from SA (43–42% versus 20% for triple IFN-γ/IL-2/TNF-α and 14–16% versus 1% for single IL-4/5/13; P<0.05) (Fig 1C). Here, TNF is linked to tuberculosis.