Pre-treatment of A549 type II pneumocytes with the general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (Zvad) and either RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-1s (Nec1s) (Fig. 1a), RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-5 (Nec5) (Fig. 1b), RIPK3 inhibitor GSK’ 872 (Fig. 1c), or MLKL inhibitor necrosulfonamide (Fig. 1d), all protected in an additive manner versus pretreatment with each drug alone against Serratia marcescens (Sma) infection. The gene discussed is RIPK3; the disease is infection.