Intraperitoneal injection of EVs derived from intestinal E. coli induced host responses that resemble clinically relevant conditions, such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), that were characterized by piloerection, eye exudates, hypothermia, tachypnea, leukopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, dysfunction of the lungs, hypotension, systemic increases in TNF-a and IL-6 production, and lethality54. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is systemic inflammatory response syndrome.