Examples of such defects include inappropriately activated Ras and the resulting reduction and/or loss of PKR activity exploited by reovirus [62-64] and the reduction and/or loss of the type I interferon response and subsequent failure to activate the PKR antiviral response [65-68], which is responsible for the cancer cell selectivity shown by the vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus. The gene discussed is EIF2AK2; the disease is cancer.