Instead, our data show that inflammasome defense against dissemination of different S. Tm strains from the gut relies specifically on intestinal epithelial NAIP/NLRC4 (Fig. 3, S5), previously shown to drive the expulsion of infected IECs and restrict mucosal pathogen loads by >>50-fold during oral S. Tm or Citrobacter rodentium infection.11,55 These results establish IEC NAIP/NLRC4 as the warden of not only the gut mucosa, but also of the systemic compartment, upon infection with a host-adapted pathogen. This evidence concerns the gene NLRC4 and infection.