There is accumulating evidence showing that mtDNA sensing by the cGAS-MITA/STING pathway plays a critical role in antiviral host defense, but how viral infection triggers Ca2+ import into mitochondria via MCU to induce mitostress and how MPTP-VDAC oligomer-mediated mtDNA release is regulated after viral infection are not fully understood. The gene discussed is STING1; the disease is viral infectious disease.