As HSV-1 typically accedes to the hindbrain via the trigeminal ganglia (TG) in i.n. models of infection, we first examined the TG at day 4 p.i. (Supplementary Fig. 5a–e) and the brainstem at day 5 p.i, (Supplementary Fig. 5f–j) and found no major differences in the number of myeloid, CD4+ or CD8+ T cells between Rel+/+ and RelC307X groups. This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and infection.