Our findings that the abundance of ACE+ phenotype among granuloma MΦs is higher in ΔsteE STm-infected spleens, which have reduced bacterial persistence, but lower in spleens of TNF-neutralized animals, which have increased bacterial tissue levels and uncontrolled infection, suggest a link between ACE+ MΦ abundance and controlling bacterial persistence and infection. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is infection.