DNA sensors such as DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI), IFI16 or cGAS were reported to detect HCMV infection to induce type I IFN activation (DeFilippis et al., 2010; Gariano et al., 2012; Li et al., 2013; Lio et al., 2016; Paijo et al., 2016). Here, ZBP1 is linked to cytomegalovirus infection.