IL6 and infection: Infection with the MAB-R variant triggered higher levels of IL-1β (32,132 ± 0.80 pg/mL), IL-6 (14,862 ± 0.61 pg/mL), TNF-α (49,896 ± 1.89 pg/mL) and, though to a lesser extent, IL-8 (115.314 ± 2.68 pg/mL) compared with infection with the MAB-S variant (IL-1β 57.