Although the immunosuppressive effects that type 1 piliated UPECs exert on DCs after the FimH–CD14 interaction are averaged in larger populations by non-cell autonomous effects during mixed infections, our results underscore the importance of the binary response during pathogen–host interaction at the single-cell level given that early immune response to UPECs can decide on the recurrent fate of the infection (Hannan et al., 2010). This evidence concerns the gene CD14 and infection.