EIF2AK2 and infection: Interestingly, in the case of JUNV Candid#1, despite the differences in IFN-β mRNA levels in infected A549/Scr and A549/PKR KO cells, viral progeny production was not affected [14], suggesting that either the contribution of PKR against JUNV infection is not biologically relevant or that JUNV can deploy molecular mechanisms to overcome the host’s innate immune response.