Infection of the human melanocyte line Hermes 3A with shATF2 effectively inhibited ATF2 expression, upregulated Mitf transcription and increased transcription of SOX10 and FOXD3 (from 7- to 10-fold) and to a lesser extent of Pax3 and Brn2 (from 1.5- to 2-fold) (Figure 4a, S3a). This evidence concerns the gene FOXD3 and infection.