NLRP3 and infection: The NOD-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which is assembled by NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1 after an endogenous “danger signal,” and exogenous infection, is an important cytosolic protein complex [7] which provides a caspase-1-activation platform to promote the maturation and release of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 [8].