Virulent M. tuberculosis quickly induces necrotic cell death in neutrophils upon infection in a reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI)-dependent manner, which is not seen upon infection with attenuated strains lacking the entire virulence-associated RD1 region, such as Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)11,14. The gene discussed is PDE6B; the disease is infection.