MAP2K4 and infection: As shown in Fig. 2 (see Additional file 1: figure file 2), Tir-1, Nsy-1, Sek-1 and Pmk-1 genes, which belong to the Tir-1 → Nsy-1 → Sek-1 → Pmk-1 cascades of the p38MAPK signaling pathway, were all upregulated after the infection of either EC3 or EC10.