Contrary to a pro-apoptotic role for CD8+ T cells and their lytic proteins, our hypotheses that EphA2 upregulation during PbA infection contributes to adherens and tight junction protein dysfunction resulting in increased BBB permeability and that ECM development involves the interaction between EphA2 and CD8+ T cells (Fig 8) are consistent with the results of this study. Here, EPHA2 is linked to infection.