MAPK8 and cytomegalovirus infection: The JNK and p38 MAPK pathways are also important.10 HCMV infection has previously been shown to induce activation of ERK1/2 and to be related to viral survival in infected cells.11,      1 2 Using his own studies and those of others, Melnick found that upregulation of ERK phosphorylation is necessary to initial CMV-induced pathogenesis.      1 3