Our results show that in vitro and in vivo, NCK2031 expressing LTA and purified S. aureus-LTA induce intestinal immune activation resulting in the production of TNFα and IL-12 and the development of pro-inflammatory cells such as CD11c+TNFα+IL-12+ DCs and F4/80+ macrophages that may contribute to an undesired CD4+IFNγ+TNFα+ T cell pro-inflammatory response seen in colitis. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is colitis.