IFNB1 and viral infectious disease: Type I interferons (IFNs) are produced by cells in response to microbial products and consist of seven classes, IFNα, IFNβ, IFNω, IFNκ, IFNε, IFNδ and IFNτ, in which IFNα and IFNβ are the most extensively studied.13 Type I IFNs act on most cell types and are important innate immune mediators against virus infection.