NLRP3 and infection: The NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein complex involving NLRP3, the adaptor ASC and the proteolytic enzyme, caspase-1, has recently emerged as a key molecular machinery for the processing and thus activation of bioactive IL-1β (52, 53) and a major pathophysiological regulator in infection, myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer’s and diabetes (53).