A direct immunomodulatory effect of α-MG is also likely because the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of α-MG were reported in various inflammatory disease models apart from virus infections, such as IL-1β-induced chondrocyte inflammation, LPS-induced brain inflammation, and LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver failure27–29. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is viral infectious disease.