For example, AAAG‐rich oligodeoxynucleotides that compete with IRF5 for the consensus DNA binding site in regulatory elements associated with inflammatory genes have been used successfully to ameliorate bacterial septic peritonitis and influenza‐induced acute lung injury and to reduce the levels of IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor, and type 2 nitric oxide synthase in mouse models (49, 50). This evidence concerns the gene IRF5 and influenza.