To address the possibility of cross interference between the previously characterized inhibitory effect of m152 on very early NK cell responses and the STING‐mediated type I IFN response, we depleted B6J or STING−/− mice of NK cells prior to infection with parental MCMV or MCMV m152stop for assessment of MCMV transcription (Fig 7F). Here, STING1 is linked to infection.