The interferon-related genes that were preferentially up-regulated in 2009 H1N1 samples relative to controls coded for chemokine ligands, 2′-5′ oligoadenylated synthetases, IFN-inducible proteins, and STAT proteins, proteins previously shown to play essential roles in the interferon-mediated host immune response to viral infection [41]. This evidence concerns the gene SOAT1 and viral infectious disease.