IL18 and infection: To evaluate the innate immune response to infection in more detail, we performed a comparative gene expression analysis of genes encoding the following: interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Ifng, Ifnk, Il1b, Il6, Il18, and Tnf), transcription factors involved in immunity and inflammation (Irf1, Irf3, Irf7, Nfkb1, and Stat1), interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) (Ifi6, Ifi27l1, Ifitm1, Isg15, Isg20, Ly6e, Mx1, Mx2, Oas1, Oas2, Oas3, and Oasl), and pattern recognition receptors or nucleic acid sensors (Ifih1, Nlrp3, and Sting1).