MALAT1 and infection: Given that we found no significant differences in the expression of other immunomodulatory lncRNAs like Malat1, Lethe, lincRNA-EPS, or Gas5 in BMM at 24 h post-infection, and considering that B. abortus modulates the macrophage response to evade its degradation and reach its replicative niche during the first 12 h post-infection (58, 62), we hypothesize that these immunomodulatory lncRNAs are differentially expressed by macrophages in early stages of the Brucella intracellular cycle.