MVA infection induced a robust innate immune response in peritoneal cells, peritoneal lavage fluid, splenocytes and splenocyte homogenates characterized by the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40), chemokines (IP-10/CXCL10, RANTES/CCL5, MCP-5/CCL12, MIP-2/CXCL2) and type I interferon (IFNβ) mRNA and protein (Figure 1A and B and data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and infection.