CUL2 and infection: As illustrated in Figure 2D,E, the colony-forming unit (CFU) counts of both Ecc15 and S. marcescens were higher in the Cul2 LOF mutants than those in the w1118 controls, suggesting that loss of Cul2 disrupts the IMD signaling-mediated induction of key AMPs, thereby resulting in insufficient pathogen clearance and heightened mortality upon infection.