Analysis of these regional mucosal immune responses revealed novel correlates of immune protection associated with reduced infection that included an increased frequency of CD335+ innate lymphoid cells, and increased expression of IL21 and IL27. Thus, intestinal segments provide a novel model to accelerate vaccine screening and discovery by testing vaccines directly in the natural host and provides a unique opportunity to interrogate mucosal immune responses to mycobacterial infections. The gene discussed is IL27; the disease is infection.