CD8A and immune system disorder: • Increased expression of efflux pumps. • Reprogramming of host macrophage metabolism (bypassing the IL-1R1 pathway and inducing INF-β). • Remodeling of host transcriptional profiling through epigenetic manipulation. • Altered cytokine/chemokine production in macrophages. • Strains with low PDIM levels associated with low virulence. • Increased adhesion and invasion of ATs: successful dissemination. • Altered levels of CD3, CD4, NKT, CD4/CD8 ratio, TNF levels in serum: immune dysfunction.