Matching the data collected during the physical characterization of the NTHi-NHNE infection (Figs 1 and 5), expression levels of key chemo- and cytokines (e.g. CXCL8, IL-6, IL-1β, CCL3, CXCL1 & CXCL2) and genes involved in ECM remodelling and inflammation (PLAU, Serpine1, MMP9) increased further on day14. Here, MMP9 is linked to infection.