IFNB1 and infection: Utilizing the conditional reporter activity of the IFN-βfloxβ−luc/floxβ−luc mice it was shown for several neurotropic viruses such as rabies virus (RABV), Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), and VSV that astrocytes are the main producers of IFNβ after infection of the brain (139).