Previous studies revealed a critical role of Ifit2 in protecting adult mice from vMHV-GFP induced encephalitis and mortality by limiting viral spread and enhancing IFNα/β responses [16].To determine if Ifit2 played a similar antiviral role against RSA59 infection in younger 4-5-week-old mice, infected WT and Ifit2-/- mice were monitored for development of clinical disease. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and viral encephalitis.