TBK1 and viral infectious disease: TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and I-κB kinase ε (IKK-ε, also called IKK-i) are pivotal regulators of type-I interferon production: With the exception of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, most cells that are deficient for both TBK1 and IKK-i fail to produce type-I interferons in response to viral infection [3], [4].