To our knowledge, at least 10 of the ImmDEGs identified in this study (TLR2–1, IRG1, MX1, OASL, IFIT5, CXCR4, DDX60, NFKBIZ, IFNA and IL12RB2) were reported as differentially expressed during experimental infection of chickens or chicken cells with H5 influenza viruses. This evidence concerns the gene CXCR4 and infection.