Due to the crucial role of type I IFN in primary HSV-1 infection, we asked if IFNβ plays a role in HSV-1 latency reactivation by examining the effects of the absence of IFNβ on HSV-1 infectivity using IFNβ-/- mice following infection with LAT(+) or LAT(-) viruses. The gene discussed is IFNB1; the disease is infection.