To characterize the inflammatory host response to treatment and/or infection lung lavage and cell counts were performed as described [16] . In order to assess the response to NTHi lysate treatment, lavage samples from unchallenged mice were obtained 4 h after the final (or only) NTHi lysate treatment. In order to collect samples during acute virus-induced illness, lavage samples were also collected on day +3 following infection with influenza. Multiplex ELISA cytokine analysis was performed by Searchlight Protein Array Analysis (Pierce Biotechnology). Total leukocyte count was determined with a hemacytometer, and differential count by cytocentrifugation of 300 ml of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 4506g for 5 min, followed by Wright-Giemsa staining.