NLRP13 and coinfection: The proteins unique to HIV-1/HCV co-infection included pro-inflammatory, apoptosis and immune response related proteins. For example, NLRP13 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 13) or NALPs are implicated in the activation of pro-inflammatory caspases (e.g., CASP1; MIM 147678) via their involvement in multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes[52].