Taken together, these data suggest that i) for T cells secretion of IFNγ is essential to interfere with local MCMV replication in NIFs, ii) IFNγ-receptor signaling on T cells is not necessary to mediate their antiviral effect and iii) CD4 and CD8 T cells work together to fight virus infections in MCMV-infected lungs. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is viral infectious disease.