While increased IL-1β has been associated with chorioamnionitis, fetal injury, and preterm birth (Sadowsky et al, 2006; Flores-Herrera et al, 2012; Jaiswal et al, 2013), mechanistic insight into microbial factors that trigger inflammasome activation and the consequence on fetal injury and preterm birth was not known. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is chorioamnionitis.