Furthermore, downstream targets of STAT3, CEBPB, CEBPD, SPI1/PU1, ICSBP/IRF8, which are TF regulators of myeloid differentiation, were enriched in ‘disseminated TB’ and in the ‘ML ratio’ gene sets (Supplementary file 2), suggesting these TFs are activated during severe disease and associated to monocyte expansion in vivo. This evidence concerns the gene IRF8 and tuberculosis.