RIPK3 and pneumococcal meningitis: As shown in Figure 3A, ripk3 was expressed to higher levels in larvae infected with S. pneumoniae PLY+ as compared to larvae infected with S. pneumoniae PLY− or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control-injected larvae as time progressed during the early stages of pneumococcal meningitis at 3, 6 and 9 hpi.