Short Communication Herpes simplex virus infection is sensed by both Toll-like receptors and retinoic acid-inducible gene- like receptors, which synergize to induce type I interferon production

The innate antiviral response is initiated by pattern recognition receptors, which recognize viralpathogen-associated molecular patterns. Here we show that retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I-like receptors (RLRs) in cooperation with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 is required for expression oftype I interferons (IFNs) after infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). Our work also identifiedRNase L as a critical component in IFN induction. Moreover, we found that TLR9 and RLRsactivate distinct, as well as overlapping, intracellular signalling pathways. Thus, RLRs areimportant for recognition of HSV infection, and cooperate with the Toll pathway to induce anantiviral response.