TGFB1 and viral infectious disease: While the use of antivirals has previously demonstrated anti-fibrotic effects in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections (Calvaruso and Craxì, 2014; Cheng et al, 2021) these observations were attributed to the targeting of the underlying viral infection, and our work suggests a potentially novel mechanism for antiviral drugs through prevention of the fibrotic reaction by targeting TGFβ signaling.