AIM2 and infection: Interestingly, these experiments revealed that AIM2 exacerbates the IAV immune response, characterised by elevated secretion of bioactive caspase-1 and IL-1β in alveolar macrophages and human primary alveolar type II cells, which ultimately promoted pyroptosis and increased mortality in murine models of PR8 and A/Ca/07/09 (CA07) H1N1 infection [36].