BCG85C5 induced a stronger protection than wt-BCG against tuberculosis in mice, through expansion of CD62L−CCR7−CD44hiCD127+/− effector T cells (TEM) and CD62L+CCR7+/−CD44hi CD127+ central memory T cells (TCM), correlating with ≥1.5 log10 reduction in colony counts of Mtb in the lungs and spleens following infection or reinfection. The gene discussed is SELL; the disease is tuberculosis.