[2] Some viruses have evolved defense mechanisms that regulate and interfere with IRF functions to escape the host immune system.

[3] For instance, the remaining parts of the interferon regulatory factor sequence vary depending on the precise function of the protein.

[2] The Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, KSHV,[4] is a cancer virus that encodes four different IRF-like genes;[5] including vIRF1,[6] which is a transforming oncoprotein that inhibits type 1 interferon activity.

[8] IRFs primarily regulate type I IFNs in the host after pathogen invasion and are considered the crucial mediators of an antiviral response.

[10] Accumulating evidence also indicates that IRFs play a major role in the regulation of cellular responses linked to oncogenesis.