To test whether neutrophils facilitated Spn dissemination from the URT, we depleted neutrophils in the URT by treating infant mice with an anti-Gr-1 monoclonal antibody (αGr-1) or isotype (IgG) control, and assessed bacterial spread to the blood and spleen 3 days post-Spn IN infection. This evidence concerns the gene TXNDC12 and infection.