The numbers of interstitial macrophages (SIRPa+ MerTK+ CD11b+ MHC-II+) also increased in the infected mice compared to the non-infected mice (p<0.05, between the numbers at any time point post infection versus the non-infected mice; one-way ANOVA); we did not find any significant differences over time (Fig 1B). This evidence concerns the gene MERTK and infection.