IFNAR2 and infection: To determine whether the type I interferon pathway is activated upon HSV-2 infection, THP-1 monocyte cells were differentiated to macrophages with PMA then infected with HSV-2 (MOI 1) and collected at different time points 2 hpi, 4 hpi, 6 hpi, 8 hpi, and 24 hpi (hours post-infection) to quantify the gene expression of IFN-α (Alpha) and IFN-β (Beta) and their receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2).