In another study using S. pneumoniae, infection was more severe on day 7 in TLR2−/− mice than in WT mice, blood bacterial titers were higher at 3 and 7 days, and more bacteria were detected in middle ear effusions, demonstrating that TLR2 plays an important role in the molecular pathogenesis and host response in otitis media [23]. The gene discussed is TLR2; the disease is otitis media.