An important role for the ORF36 IFN-I evasion gene in splenic infection was surprising, as its inhibition of IRF3 should limit IFN-I induction, and the abundant exposure of wild-type splenic virus to IFN-I implied that MuHV-4 evades its effector functions rather than relying solely on limiting induction. This evidence concerns the gene IRF3 and infection.