IFNA1 and viral infectious disease: The transcriptional regulation of cytokines was not appreciated until the discovery of NF-κB in the late 1980s.20 And specialized transcription factors for IFN induction were discovered to be the interferon transcription factors (IRFs) family.21,22 IFN induction mediated by the TBK1–IRF3 axis and NF-κB activation were deemed as two hallmark events of viral infection.23 The open question is to probe the upstream sensors for nucleic acid.