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infection, as demonstrated by studies in animals and humans that have defects in the ability to make or respond to interferons evolved to inhibit this response. transcription factor, interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3). Functional IRF-3 is absolutely required for the immediate transcription of interferon resulting from virus infection (Sato et al., 2000; Yeow et al., 2001). Activation of IRF-3 requires 7) 3(Dupuis et al., 2003; Hwang et al., 1995; Muller et al., 1994). The importance of interferon production to host defense is alsoInnate immune responses to viral infection are multi-step processes requiring the recognition of virus infection, activation of multiple signal transduction cascades, and the transcription of antiviral genes. One of the most important proteins produced following infection, and a critical component of the innate immune response, is interferon beta (IFN-β). IFN-β is a cytokine that acts in an autocrine and paracrine manner to up