Infection with the ΔSpyCEP mutant also resulted in 50-fold higher relative neutrophil numbers (live CD45+, CD11b+, Ly6G+ cells) in draining lymph nodes compared to the virulent strain and 10-fold lower neutrophil counts in blood (Fig. 5b), consistent with a major role for the chemokine CXCL8 (CXCL1/2 in mice) in neutrophil recruitment to the lymph node36. Here, ITGAM is linked to infection.