IFNA2 and infection: Given that Type I IFNs exert diverse effects on innate and adaptive immune cells and have been widely employed to treat infection with viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and tumors (2, 8), the findings presented here are relevant not only for understanding HBV but also in ascertaining the role of immunomodulatory effect induced by the widely used PEG-IFNα-2b therapy.