On the basis that TRAV1-2+ CD8+ T cells display a surface phenotype suggestive of tissue-resident MAIT cells in BAL fluid isolated from patients with active TB, we postulated that the corresponding CDR3α sequences would provide a molecular signature reflecting MAIT cell enrichment relative to TRAV1-2+ CD8+ T cells in matched peripheral blood samples. Here, TRAV1-2 is linked to tuberculosis.