Treatment of MHV-1-infected mice with a synthetic peptide, SPIKENET (SPK), which inhibits spike protein binding, lowered NGAL mRNA in acute infection, and decreased TGF-β1, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 3 (BCL3) mRNA, as well as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HIF1-α, and TLR-2 protein levels long-term post-infection. Here, EGFR is linked to infection.