IFNG and infection: Upon infection with HPV, the immune system responds by releasing IFN-γ, which activates immune cells and initiates an anti-viral response by stimulating the production of anti-viral proteins, such as the so-called interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs), tripartite motif (TRIM)5α, MXs or apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3), that restrict the entry, endosomal fusion, viral uncoating, and nucleocapsid transport, inhibit viral replication and disrupt viral pathogenesis [53].