NLRP3 and infection: To investigate the effect of alpha-2 giardin- and alpha-7.3 giardin-mediated host NLRP3 inflammasome activation on the infection ability of G. duodenalis, we used WT C57BL/6 mice and introduced alpha-2 giardin and alpha-7.3 giardin endotoxin-free plasmids by intramuscular injection, followed 3 days later by gavage with G. duodenalis cysts; the mice were then monitored for 7 days.