NLRP3 and infection: Interestingly, EST-12, another secreted Mtb effector protein, binds to the cellular receptor RACK-1 leading to NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD mediated pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, an Mtb strain lacking EST-12 exhibited increased infectivity in the murine model, indicating that inflammasome activation can be protective in early stages of the infection (24).