Transfection with Poly I:C induced the expression of Mx, PKR and IFN-Ia between 10 to 30-fold in the first 24 hours and reduced the viral load two orders after 7 d post-infection (data not shown), indicating that the activation of the interferon type I pathway was effective to control the infection of IPNV in SHK-1. The gene discussed is EIF2AK2; the disease is infection.