In contrast to MIO-M1 cells, the ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line [30] showed a robust IFN-β response by RT-qPCR compared to medium-only ARPE-19 cells (p < 0.0001), confirming that Mon601 can generate IFN-β in response to infection in other cells of the eye (Figure 2A). Here, IFNB1 is linked to infection.