As shown in Figure 7A, infection of human corneal epithelial cells with virulent HSV-1 strains (McKrae or 17) or with the clinical isolate KOS79 induced a significant increase of the FLICA straining, confirming the western blot data that Caspase-1 is highly activated in human corneal epithelial by virulent strains. The gene discussed is CASP1; the disease is infection.