These findings are consistent with a previous study where caspase-3 activation was required for reovirus induced encephalitis in vivo, with caspase-3 (−/−) mice showing lesser degree of tissue damage with better survival [9], but contradictory to another report that suggests that reovirus mediated cell death is independent of caspase activation, but rather, is mediated by a process called necroptosis, an alternate necrotic form of cell death [17]. The gene discussed is CASP3; the disease is viral encephalitis.