NLRP3 and infection: Moreover, prior research suggests that some variants of virulence factors found in P. gingivalis, such as LPS and fimbriae (Bostanci and Belibasakis, 2012) are recognized by toll-like receptors (TLRs) during infection, subsequently triggering the NF-κB pathway to up-regulate expression of pro-IL-1β and some NLRs, like NLRP3 (Bauernfeind et al., 2009).