Lasso regression analysis was applied directly to the 27 protein biomarkers identifying an 8-protein signature comprising b-FGF, IFNγ, IL1RA, IL7, IL12p70, IL13, PDGF-BB, and VEGF (Table 3) that discriminated subclinical TB from incipient TB in the training set (sensitivity 100.0%, 95%CI, 63.1-100.0, specificity 90.9%, 95%CI, 84.6-100.0; AUC of 1.00, 95%CI, 0.99-1.00). This evidence concerns the gene IL13 and tuberculosis.