SAA1 and infection: Compared to the control bacteria, the number of live intracellularly growing SAA1-opsonized tubercle bacilli was two (Mtb/MtbSAA(15) 2.11 × 106/4.35 × 106 CFU/mL, p < 0.001) and almost three times (Mtb/MtbSAA(15) 2.32 × 106/6.41 × 106 CFU/mL, p < 0.001) elevated at days 3 and 6 of infection, respectively.