ESX1 and infection: The present study showed that HCMV results in significant difference of nine HOX genes: HHEX, ZEB2, HOXD8, EMX2OS, SIX5, PKNOX1, IRX3, MEIS1, and ESX1, especially HHEX gene by increase of more than three-folds at 24, 48, and 72 h after infection.