These results suggest that d-alanylation of LTA reduces the early association with granulocytes and their activation as S. suis enters porcine blood but might not ensure efficient escape in the progress of infection, at least not in the blood of conventional 8-week-old piglets that generally carry specific IgG and IgM antibodies against S. suis but are nevertheless often affected by S. suis disease. This evidence concerns the gene CD40LG and infection.