The importance of IRF7 in regulating IFN‐α production in humans was underscored by the severe susceptibility to influenza and demonstrable lack of IFN‐α production by pDC in a patient with compound heterozygous IRF7 mutation.75 Deficiency of MyD88 and IRAK4 are predicted to affect pDC whereas DOCK8 deficiency is known to be associated with decreased pDC number and function.76 In addition to acute viral infection, pDC have been studied in chronic infections. Here, IRF7 is linked to influenza.