Significant increases in the expression levels of the M gene (Fig. 1b), IL-6 (Fig. 1c) and IFN-β (Fig. 1d) were observed in A549 cells infected with H9N2 influenza compared with uninfected control cells, indicating that hyperinflammatory responses were elicited by H9N2 influenza virus infection. The gene discussed is IFNB1; the disease is influenza.