While the present results might seem at odds with our prior studies utilizing siRNA approaches [4], it must be noted that we previously showed that infection of astrocytes with HSV-1(McIntyre) at a high dose (MOI of 10) elicits robust IL-6 and TNF production that is sensitive to siRNA-mediated ZBP1 knockdown, while lower MOIs do not. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is infection.