Similar to non-transplanted Mbd4−/− mice, AOM/DSS treated transplanted Mbd4−/− mice lost a significantly greater percentage of initial body weight compared to their transplanted WT counterparts during the first DSS/recovery cycle (Figure 5A), and transplanted Mbd4−/− mice also showed greater lethality than transplanted WT controls in the AOM/DSS assay (Figure 5B). The gene discussed is MBD4; the disease is infectious otitis media.