IL6 and infection: To investigate the cytokine responses of hamsters to SARS-CoV-2 VOC infection, we measured cytokine (IL-1, IL-4, TNFα, IL-10, IL-2, IL-6) and IFN response-related (IFNγ, IFNλ, IRF1, iNOS) gene expression by RT-qPCR at 3dpi in nasal turbinate (Fig. 3E) and lung (Fig. 3F) tissues (multiplexed protein-based assays to evaluate hamster analytes were unavailable).