However, MEKi decreased phosphorylation of STAT3 at S727 in response to RV2 or RSVA2 infection compared to untreated controls (lane 6 vs lane 1; 0.4-fold, p < 0.05; 0.5-fold, p < 0.05; respectively; Additional file 1: Figure S7b) or virus infected alone (Fig. 7b, left and middle panel, lane 6 vs lane 5; 0.5-fold, p < 0.05; 0.4-fold, p < 0.05; respectively; Additional file 1: Figure S7b), confirming the utmost importance of ERK1/2 in fully activating STAT3. Here, STAT3 is linked to infection.