To determine the role of ZIP8-mediated intestinal dysbiosis on pulmonary host defense against pneumococcal infection, both male and female F1 progeny (age 12–13 weeks) were administered 4 × 108 CFU of S. pneumoniae in the lung and euthanized 48 h later to assess lung damage and bacterial burden. This evidence concerns the gene SLC39A8 and pneumococcal infection.