IFNAR2 and cytomegalovirus infection: Notably, HCMV has been demonstrated to encode several factors that counteract the IFN signaling pathway, including HCMV tegument protein pp65 (19–22) and pp71 (23); therefore, a subsequent series of experiments were performed by the transfection of miRNA mimics without HCMV infection, with IFNAR2 also examined as a control target.