To address these questions, a human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector encoding Atoh1 (Atoh1) and/or RFP (RFP-Atoh1-) or RFP-Atoh1 (RFP-Atoh1+) was used to overexpress Atoh1 in cultured mouse cochlea in vitro, and we assessed the morphological and functional features of HCLCs at different days after viral infection (DVI). This evidence concerns the gene ATOH1 and viral infectious disease.