RAVER1 and viral infectious disease: RAVER1 is a co-activator of MDA5 (IFIH1), which recognizes nucleic acids associated with viral infections such as dsRNAs, including SARS-CoV-2, and activates antiviral response genes, including IFNB1, ICAM1, TNF and CCL5 (Fig. 2c),35 suggesting that the MDA5 (IFIH1) antiviral pathway may be modified in patients carrying rs74956615 risk allele, which results in critical illness.