They then isolated BM c-Kit+ HSPCs from mice one month after initiating Mycobacterium avium infection, transplanted these trained HSPCs into naïve sublethally irradiated recipient mice, challenged the recipient mice 6–12 months later with Mycobacterium avium, and found enhanced protection of the recipients to this secondary Mycobacterium avium infection. The gene discussed is KIT; the disease is Mycobacterium avium complex disease.