Finally, it should be stated that regardless whether SOCS-3 is additionally induced by type I IFNs at a later stage of infection, it is important that it can be induced earlier and in parallel to IFNb directly by vRNA accumulation. This is supported by the finding that IFNb and SOCS-3 induction occurs in parallel kinetics ( Figure 4A and 4B) while IFN-induced genes such as OAS1 and MxA are only up-regulated later in a delayed and more sustained fashion ( Figure 4D ). This makes a qualitative difference since the blocking effect of SOCS-3 on IFNb signaling already kicks-in during the first wave of IFNb action.