TP53 and infection: To gain insight into the effects of p53 overexpression on viral gene transcription, the mRNA levels of four ILTV genes covering all stages of the viral gene expression of ILTV, including the immediate early gene (IEG) ICP4, early gene (EG) ICP27, early/late gene (E/LG) gI, and late gene (LG) gG [13], were detected by absolute quantitative real-time PCR (absolute qRT–PCR) at 6 h post infection in LMH cells upon the overexpression of p53.