Using two mutant viruses unable to express either ORF47p (ROka47S) or ORF66p (ROka66S), we demonstrated for the first time that, during viral infection, the kinase ORF47p but not ORF66p is involved in the VZV-mediated phosphorylation of IRF3 since it is no more up-shifted in absence of ORF47p as shown by Western Blotting. The gene discussed is IRF3; the disease is viral infectious disease.