IFNA1 and infection: We have previously shown that plasma levels of IFNα were significantly elevated during the acute phase of SIV infection[33] whereas, others have reported significant gender based differences in induction of ISG[27], and IFNα production[57] during HIV infection To determine if gender differences in innate IFN responses were apparent in vivo during the acute phase of infection, we examined plasma concentrations of IFNα at day 4 and 10 PI and compared them to day 0 values.