MAVS is required for M.tb-induced IFN-β production and facilitates bacterial survival in vivo. (A) Representative pictures of Mavs^−/− and WT C57BL/6 mouse lungs 1 d and 2, 4, and 8 wk after infection. (B) Representative H&E staining of lung sections from Mavs^−/− and WT C57BL/6 mice and histopathological scoring of multiple lung sections at 4 wk after infection. (C) Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of Mavs^−/− and WT C57BL/6 mice infected with WT CDC1551 M.tb via the aerosol route (n = 10 per group). *** P < 0.001 by log-rank test. (D and E) Mycobacterial burdens in the lung (D) and spleen (E) of mice at different times after infection. (F–I) The ELISA analysis of IFN-β (F), IL-1 β (G), TNF-α (H), and IFN-γ (I) in the serum of mice infected with M.tb. n.s., not statistically significant; for D–I (n = 3 per group), * P < 0.05 and ** P < 0.01 by Mann–Whitney U test.