The p-eIF2-alpha inhibition of translation affects most mRNAs except those bearing a 5′UTR with specific features: long (>200 nucleotides), rich in GC content (∼70%) and containing upstream initiation codons; these mRNAs, including BACE1 mRNA, will be more efficiently translated into proteins during infection as a consequence of eIF2-alpha phosphorylation. This evidence concerns the gene BACE1 and infection.