After Ad-Atoh1 infection, the number of PVALB+ cells was significantly increased in both the sensory epithelium (13.02 ± 1.076 cells/100 μm sensory epithelium, n = 9, Figures 5a, b and Supplementary Figures 5a, b) and the limbus region (2.76 ± 0.63 cells/2,500 μm2 limbus region, n = 6, Figures 5a, b). Here, ATOH1 is linked to infection.