NLRP3 and infection: Since epithelial cells are the first corneal cells targeted by HSV-1, we next determined whether and how the NLRP3, NLRP6 and NLRP12, IFI16, and AIM2 inflammasomes pathways are activated in human corneal epithelial cells following in vitro infection with virulent vs. less-virulent laboratory strains and clinical isolates of HSV-1.