In addition, heightened viral nucleic acid levels corresponded to significantly lowered mRNA and protein levels of IFN-β at both the 24 and 48 h time points for ZIKV and HSV-1 infection (Fig. 8b, c and f) as well as significantly reduced IFN-λ mRNA levels for ZIKV at both time points, and at 24 h post-infection following HSV-1 infection. This evidence concerns the gene IFNB1 and infection.