As SPLUNC1 is postulated to play a role in host defense against microorganisms, we utilized small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to knock down expression of the chinchilla ortholog of human SPLUNC1 (cSPLUNC1) and determined the impact of altered cSPLUNC1 expression on the development of experimental OM induced by NTHI. Here, BPIFA1 is linked to ocular melanoma.