Consistent with this, intranasal administration of recombinant IFN-β at 6 and 24 h post-infection protected mice against weight loss and death when compared to mice administered saline as well as mice administered recombinant IFN-β on days 2 and 4 post infection, which in turn had increased mortality compared to saline-treated controls. The gene discussed is IFNB1; the disease is infection.